JEAN-MICHEL FRANK | Pair of armchairs

shagreen covered wood, fabric upholstery

Private collection, France
Tajan, November 24, 2003, lot 85
Private collection, Paris

Léopold Diego Sanchez, Jean-Michel Frank, Paris, 1980, p. 114 for a related example
Yvonne Brunhammer, Les styles des années 30 à 50, Paris, 1987, p. 6
Dan Klein, Nancy A. McClelland and Malcolm Haslam, L'Esprit Art Déco, Paris, 1987, p. 135
Lison de Caunes and Jean Perfettini, Galuchat, Paris, 1994, p. 50
Léopold Diego Sanchez, Jean-Michel Frank, Paris, 1997, p. 102
François Baudot, J.M. Frank, Paris, 2004, p. 42
Pierre-Emmanuel Martin-Vivier, Jean-Michel Frank, L'étrange luxe du rien, Paris, 2006,  pp. 108-109

EN : Good overall condition. The shagreen presents with some tiny cracks and some upliftings, inherent to the aging of the material and mostly concentrated along the seams. Some of these cracks and upliftings have been previously stabilized. Some of the glue used for these previous restorations has turned yellow overtime. There are instances of light discolouration to the shagreen, inherent to the aging process of the material. There are a few very tiny chips of shagreen, mostly concentrated along the edges, the corners and the bottom of the feet. A few of them have been previously restored (including one on each armchair along the proper left back corners of the backrest). On one armchair, a triangular loss of shagreen of approx 1x1 cm along the proper right corner of the backrest and two previously restored shagreen areas : above the proper left front foot (approx. 2,5 x 1 cm) and on the proper left back foot (approx 2,5 x 1,5 cm). The other amrchair presents with a loss of shagreen on the proper right back foot (approximately 1,5 x 1 cm) accompanied by a black horizontal stain and with a tiny loss of shagreen along the proper right corner of the backrest (approx 1 x 0,5 cm). Two elements of shagreen appear to have been replaced at a later date on the proper left armrests of the armchairs. On the sides, a few shagreen elements, with a slightly different colour, might have replaced but this cannot be confirmed. The set has been recently re-upholstered and the upholstery is in excellent condition. /// FR : Bon état général. Le galuchat présente des petites craquelures et quelques soulèvements, inhérents au vieillissement de cette matière et principalement localisés autours des jointures. Quelques-uns des ces soulèvements et de ces craquelures ont été préalablement stabilisés. La colle utilisée pour ces restaurations a jauni avec le temps à certains endroits. Le galuchat présente des occurences de décoloration, cohérent avec le vieillissement de la matière Il y a quelques très petits sauts de galuchat, la plupart le long des rebords, des angles et aux extrémités des pieds. Quelques-uns de ces petits sauts ont été préalablement restaurés (y compris un sur chaque fauteuil au niveau de l'angle postérieur gauche du dossier). Sur un fauteuil : un manque triangulaire de galuchat d'environ 1x1 cm au niveau de l'angle intérieur droit du dossier et deux restaurations de galuchat : une au-dessus du pied avant gauche (d'environ 2,5 x 1 cm) et une sur le pied arrière gauche (d'environ 2,5 x 1,5 cm). Sur l'autre fauteuil : un manque de galuchat sur le pied arrière droit (d'environ 1,5 x 1 cm) accompagné d'une tâche horizontale noire et un petit manque au niveau de l'angle intérieur droit du dossier (d'environ 1 x 0,5 cm) Deux éléments de galuchat semblent avoir été remplacés à une date ultérieure sur les accoudoirs gauches de chacun des fauteuils. Sur les côtés, quelques éléments de galuchat d'aspect et de couleurs légèrement différents pourraient avoir été remplacés, bien que cela ne puisse être confirmé.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This lot is sold with a certificate from the Jean-Michel Frank Committee. Only two shagreen pairs of this model of armchairs have been listed by the Jean-Michel Frank Committee : the pair from the Félix Marcilhac collection (Sotheby's, Paris, March 11, 2014, lot 60) and the offered lot.