Jean Dunand

Few pieces of furniture may be more representative of Dunand’s exceptional skills as both a lacquerer and a cabinetmaker than the present armchair, an outstanding tour-de-force that beautifully captures the essence of its maker’s work. The piece, with the exception of the seat and backrest, is fully lacquered in a highly expressive orange color showing hints of auburn and russet brown. A testament to the high quality of lacquer used here, the resulting texture is both incredibly deep and silky in its appearance and is very well preserved overall. Dunand used lacquer to adorn furniture, metalware, screens, wall panels, paintings, jewelry, textiles and bookbindings. A pioneer in the modern art of lacquering, he combined traditional Asian methods with boldly geometric design and color. Natural lacquer is a resin extracted from the Rhus Succedanea and the Rhus Vernicifera trees of the Far East. Colored lacquers were created by mixing vegetal pigments with the resin, as seen in this present example. The design of the chair itself is equally as original. Its curved angles and overall smooth structure and construction work perfectly with the richness of the lacquer to create a harmonious and dynamic whole. In true Dunand fashion, the feet of the chair are elegantly tapered and add a sculptural aspect to the work. The armchair is further enhanced by its significant historical legacy, having once belonged to esteemed Art Deco connoisseurs Michael Chow and Anthony DeLorenzo.