ANDRE GRANET André Granet (1881-1974), the son of Parisian architect Louis Granet and son-in-law of Gustav Eiffel, launched his architectural career after completing his studies at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris in 1907. Upon graduation, Granet aligned himself with the acclaimed architect Roger-Henri Expert for a short time, before joining the family firm to work with his father. In 1909 the young architect began building his reputation by organizing the interior decorations for the Salon de l'Aéronautique and the Salon de l'Automobile held in the Grand Palais. He continued to accept similar large-scale design projects for expositions throughout his career and earned recognition for these elaborate but short-lived designs: his "décors éphémères." Among his many commissions were the Casino de Dax, l'Hôtel Splendid in Dax, and several residences and other buildings for the Watel, Worth and Esnault-Pelterie families. With Robert Esnault-Pelterie, Granet founded the Association des Industriels de la Locomotion airienne in 1908. In 1925 Granet participated with August Perret in the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Moderne in Paris as an architect for the Exhibition Theater. If Granet had not previously been aware of the work of Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann, certainly he could not have missed the much admired Pavilion presented by Ruhlmann at the exposition, the Hotel du Collectionneur. Ruhlmann's elegant Hotel was the pinnacle of modern design in the Art Deco style. In 1931 Granet moved his practice into a building he had designed at 4, rue de Galilée in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. No doubt impressed by Ruhlmann's striking and sophisticated interiors and his handsome custom furniture designs, Granet commissioned Ruhlmann to design the interior of his offices. It was one of the last major commissions assumed by Ruhlmann and tragically, he never saw its completion. Alfred Porteneuve, his nephew and close design colleague, finished the office for Granet in 1934. Throughout his sixty year career Granet came to be recognized as a master architect of civic buildings and national expositions as well as various private residences. Considering his own unique design skills and discriminating taste, it is no wonder that Granet chose Ruhlmann to design his office. André Granet was a versatile architect fascinated with the technologies of the day, while Ruhlmann represented the epitome of quality and modern design. PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN COLLECTOR

A ROSEWOOD AND NICKEL-PLATED BRONZE DESK

JACQUES-EMILE RUHLMANN FOR THE OFFICE OF ANDRÉ GRANET, PARIS, CIRCA 1932

细节

A ROSEWOOD AND NICKEL-PLATED BRONZE DESK
Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann for the Office of André Granet, Paris, circa 1932
with its original adjustable lamp and leather writing surface
29½in. (75cm.) high, 98 7/8in. (251cm.) wide, 49 5/8in. (126cm.) deep
branded Ruhlmann, inscribed JMCP.82.273.A.Fu.de.

来源

André Granet, Paris
Sotheby's London, March 27, 1997, lot 338

出版

Florence Camard, Ruhlmann, Master of Art Deco, 1993, pp. 218-219 and p. 221 for in situ photographs of this desk.

更多详情

The Ruhlmann-designed boiseries from Granet's office, including a pair of sconces and built-in drawing-board, were exhibited and sold by Galerie Vallois at the Paris Biennale, held from September 15-October 1, 2000.