The demi-lune sideboard designed by Louis Sue and Andre Mare represents a refined example of French decorative arts between the 1920s and 1930s, a period in which the Art Deco language reached one of its highest moments. Founders of the famous Compagnie des Arts Français, Sue and Mare in fact developed an approach capable of combining classical elegance, decorative richness and compositional modernity.
In this work, the rounded demi-lune structure gives the piece a soft and at the same time monumental presence. However, the true distinctive element is represented by the two inlaid doors, decorated with an elaborate seabed motif. Turtles, corals and stylized aquatic forms in fact develop across the surface through sophisticated inlay work made with different wood essences.
Moreover, the combination of materials contributes to defining the luxurious character of the piece. The solid maple, rosewood and veneered surfaces interact with the marble top and the feet finished in gold leaf, generating a calibrated balance between preciousness and formal rigour. The natural grain of the wood and the chromatic contrasts of the inlays further accentuate the artisanal quality of the work.
On the other hand, the decorative repertoire inspired by the natural world fully reflects the international Deco taste, oriented towards an elegant and controlled stylization. Overall, this sideboard testifies to the ability of Sue and Mare to transform a functional piece of furniture into a work of strong aesthetic value, where craftsmanship, decoration and design research coexist in perfect balance.
Description: Demi-lune sideboard with rounded form produced by Louise Sue and Andre Mare, solid maple structure, érable veneer, rosewood veneer, wood inlay in various essences, two doors inlaid with seabed decoration, interior with two burr-veneered shelves, feet finished in fine gold leaf, marble top, H 88x150x61.
Notes: “Deco” style piece of furniture, re-edition of the original by Sue and Mare presented at the International Exhibition in Paris in 1925. Inlay designed by Mathurin Méheut.
Publication: Colombo Stile Catalogue – Milan.
Hammer Price: € 11,970,00
Auction 48 – 26 October 2021 – DESIGN | Furniture, Ceramics, Glasses, XX Century Decorative Arts
