Eugène Printz

Mrs. Roberts, Rue du Colisée, Paris
Private Collection, United Kingdom
DeLorenzo Gallery, New York, 2009
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2010

"Eugène Printz," Mobilier et Décoration, February 1939, p. 71

The superb sideboard presented here is immediately recognizable as the work of Art Deco cabinetmaker Eugène Printz, and displays the attributes for which he became a legendary figure of the movement: ingenious, tasteful and resolutely modern. The characteristic formal rigor of the rectangular silhouette is punctuated by semicircular feet and four doors with a variegated brass surface. The choice of a lacquered wood surface adds further depth and originality to the present sideboard, bringing out the brightness of the brass elements and preserving the stylistic simplicity of the design. The present sideboard exemplifies Printz’s interpretation of an Art Deco in transition from the decorative opulence typical of the early 1920s towards a sleeker and more architectural style emphasizing clean lines and functionality. With the determination to create luxurious furniture and settings for a privileged and sophisticated clientele, Printz’s work remained distinct from that of the utopian modernists of the Bauhaus in Germany or the UAM in France. The present lot is an outstanding illustration of Eugène Printz’s unique take on French modernism and exceptional abilities both as a visionary designer and master cabinetmaker.