Rare Pair of Veneered Crimson Laminated fabric Cabinets by Maxime Old

Pair of modernist veneered crimson laminated fabric cabinets by Maxime Old , resting on brushed steel bases.Each cabinet features a flip-top compartment concealing storage above a drop-front door concealing storage with three non-adjustable shelves and three drawers. France: circa 1958 Provenance: Commissioned for Dr. R., Rouen, France in 1958. Yves Gastou, Paris. Private Collection Chicago. Literature: Maxime Old: Architecte-Décorateur, Badetz, pg. 228 illustrating the cabinets. Old joined the renowned designer and decorator Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, and worked with him until 1934. His time with Ruhlmann taught him much about luxury and fine design, but his esthetic was different from that of his mentor, and the designs that he subsequently went on to produce are very distinctly his own. Old’s furniture was sleek and modern, usually devoid of surface embellishments, and very pure and sculptural. His work was, in many ways, ahead of his time. He was very concerned with functionalism – the pieces should suit their purpose flawlessly, and be comfortable – after all – comfort is, indeed, a luxury. He added luxury to his pieces by using rare and costly woods, but he also made use of more accessible woods, such as oak, cherry, ash and walnut. His esthetic was for furniture with perfect proportions, clean, elegant lines, often subtly angled, and perhaps enhanced with bronze accents or fittings.

width

60 in.

height

43.24 in.

depth

19 in.

condition

Very good original condition, showing normal wear consistent with age and use.

Circa 1958