Lot 60

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF PAUL MANNO (LOTS 60-80) The following lots formed part of the collection of Paul Manno, who from 1959-1967 was the Director of the New York office of the legendary decorating firm Maison Jansen. Founded by Henri Jansen in 1880, the firm of Jansen first found fame producing furniture in the traditional styles of 18th century France. It soon branched out into the world of architecture and interior design, and under the creative eye of the brilliant Stéphane Boudin, the firm became synonymous with dazzling lifestyle of the jet-set in the heady days of the 1920's and 1930's, creating a series of legendary interiors for clients such as Lady Baillie at Leeds Castle and Antenor Patiño at Estoril. Jansen established offices as far-flung as Buenos Aires and Havana, but of course New York was one of its most important operations. Paul Manno worked with all of Jansen's prestigious clients in this period, a veritable Who's Who of American high society, ranging from William and Babe Paley and Henry Ford to Winston Guest and Anita Young (for whom the pair of mirrors and consoles, lot 61 in the sale, were created), culminating in one of the most important commissions undertaken by Jansen in America, the refurbishment of the White House for the Kennedy's.

A BRASS-MOUNTED AND EBONIZED AND STEEL 'ROYAL' DINING TABLE

SUPPLIED BY MAISON JANSEN, 20TH CENTURY

Details

A BRASS-MOUNTED AND EBONIZED AND STEEL 'ROYAL' DINING TABLE
SUPPLIED BY MAISON JANSEN, 20TH CENTURY
Oval shaped black painted wood top, legs with brass double collar and cuffs, on brass casters, 'SHEPHERD BELGIUM G B U.S.A SWISS FRANCE 970997 PATENTS' stamped on the casters
29¼ in. (74 cm.) high, 78 in. (198 cm.) wide, 39¼ in. (100 cm.) deep

Lot Essay

In the early 1970s, Pierre Deshays, successor to Pierre Delbée as President of Jansen, introduced a line of furniture available to designers worldwide, called the Jansen Collection. The 'Royal Table' was one of the more successful designs from this line. This extension table is showcased in the entrance hall in photographs of Suzy and Pierre Delbée's Paris apartment (see J. A. Abbot, Jansen, New York, 2006, pp. 182-183). It reflects the company's ability to adapt to the contemporary desire for flexibility and accessibility in this period as it easily converts from dining table to a demilune console.

See J. Leveque, Jansen Decoration, 1971, pp. 166 and 120 for tables of this model.

Further 'Royal' tables by Jansen were sold at Christie's, New York, 26 November 2002, lot 252 and 3-4 September 2004, lot 347.

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