Saint Laurent Rive Droite Pays Homage to French Modernism
Presenting iconic furniture pieces during PAD Paris.
Anthony Vaccarello has worked alongside a selection of Paris galleries to curate a show of vintage French furniture inside Saint Laurent Rive Droite stores, showcasing the best of the country’s Art Deco and Modernist periods.
Taking place on the occasion of PAD Paris, a fair dedicated to devoted to modern and contemporary furniture and design, the exhibition highlights work by Jacques Adnet and Jean Després, but mostly focuses on Jean-Michel Frank.
Describing Jean Michel-Frank as an “undeniable genius”, Vaccarello’s selection exemplifies a style founded in luxurious minimalism. In his day, Frank was the designer of choice for the artistic elite, and he often combined rare materials with those considered modest. Despite experiencing pre-war success, the designer was largely forgotten in post-war times, that was until the 1960s – when collectors rediscovered his work and contributed to a resurgence in his popularity. Yves Saint Lauren himself was an avid collector, with much of the late designer’s collection going on sale at the auction of his estate in 2009. Pieces on show in Vaccarello’s exhibit include the Cole Porter armchair and a screen made from parchment.
From Jacques Adnet, the show features a selection of furniture including a leather and metal desk. The architect and designer is considered one of the most notable figures of French Modernism, with his signature becoming “strongly constructed furniture” which was free from ornamentation or decoration. Finally, a piece arrives from Jean Després in the form of a silver-plated chest, designed circa 1960, which exemplifies his innovative application of silversmithing.
The French Modernism exhibition will be on view from March 28 to April 14 at Rive Droite stores in Paris and Los Angeles. In other design news, StudioAC looked to Canadian farmyard buildings for the “Devil’s Glen” home.
