Jacques Adnet
Encyclopedia
Jacques Adnet was a French art deco
modernist designer, architect and interior designer.
He was known for his furniture designs in leather.
, Jacques Adnet grew up with the 20th Century. He attended the Municipal School of Design in Auxerre
and the École des Beaux-Arts
Paris
.
He believed in the functional aspect of furniture combined with geometrical simplicity. Jacques Adnet was inspired by pre-classical styles and was well acquainted with traditional furniture. Until the age of 28, Jacques lived and worked hand in hand with his twin brother Jean at the Studio La Maitrise, where they met the Art Déco designer Maurice Dufrenes. From 1928 to 1960, he directed La Compagnie des Arts Francais. His team of decorators included Francois Jourdain, Charlotte Perriand
and Georges Jouve. Adnet presided over the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs from 1947 to 1949. During the 50s, he created furniture and concentrated on the numerous commissions he received, such as the decoration of the private apartments of the President at the Elysée Palace
or the meeting room of the UNESCO
headquarters in Paris. In 1959 he became the director of École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
in Paris until 1970.
In 1926 he designed the salle commune of the Ile-de-France.
By 1928, had become Director of La Compagnie des Arts Français (CAF) - at the age of 28.
CAF provided Adnet with an ideal platform from which to promote his modernist designs.
These incorporated precious woods, chromed metals, embellishments such as mirror, leather, parchment and smoked glass
in linear styles with decoration pared away wherever possible. In 1970 Adnet became director of École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
.
He died in 1984 having created a legacy of fine design that feels “modern” even today.
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
modernist designer, architect and interior designer.
He was known for his furniture designs in leather.
Education
An icon of luxurious French ModernismModernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
, Jacques Adnet grew up with the 20th Century. He attended the Municipal School of Design in Auxerre
Auxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
and the École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
He believed in the functional aspect of furniture combined with geometrical simplicity. Jacques Adnet was inspired by pre-classical styles and was well acquainted with traditional furniture. Until the age of 28, Jacques lived and worked hand in hand with his twin brother Jean at the Studio La Maitrise, where they met the Art Déco designer Maurice Dufrenes. From 1928 to 1960, he directed La Compagnie des Arts Francais. His team of decorators included Francois Jourdain, Charlotte Perriand
Charlotte Perriand
Charlotte Perriand , was a French architect and designer. Her work aimed to create functional living spaces in the belief that better design helps in creating a better society...
and Georges Jouve. Adnet presided over the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs from 1947 to 1949. During the 50s, he created furniture and concentrated on the numerous commissions he received, such as the decoration of the private apartments of the President at the Elysée Palace
Élysée Palace
The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the President of the French Republic, containing his office, and is where the Council of Ministers meets. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in Paris....
or the meeting room of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
headquarters in Paris. In 1959 he became the director of École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
The École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs is a public university of art and design and is one of the most prestigious French grande école...
in Paris until 1970.
Selected works
He exhibited at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Distinctly avant garde, Adnet and was among the first to expect metal and glass to integrate with the structure and decoration of furniture.In 1926 he designed the salle commune of the Ile-de-France.
By 1928, had become Director of La Compagnie des Arts Français (CAF) - at the age of 28.
CAF provided Adnet with an ideal platform from which to promote his modernist designs.
These incorporated precious woods, chromed metals, embellishments such as mirror, leather, parchment and smoked glass
Smoked glass
The term smoked glass refers to two different types of glass. It can be either of the following: Smoked glass is a flat sheet of glass held in the smoke of a candle flame such that one surface of the sheet of glass is covered in a layer of smoke residue...
in linear styles with decoration pared away wherever possible. In 1970 Adnet became director of École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
The École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs is a public university of art and design and is one of the most prestigious French grande école...
.
He died in 1984 having created a legacy of fine design that feels “modern” even today.
External links
- More than 140 items designed by Jacques Adnet on architonic.com: with images, information and auction results