1920s Georges Chevalier for La Maîtrise Rare Desk in Oak and Leather

Georges Chevalier for La Maîtrise, writing desk, oak, mahogany, leather, brass, France, 1925

Designed by Georges Chevalier for La Maîtrise, the decorative arts atelier of the Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette, this remarkable and rare oak desk exemplifies the bold geometric vocabulary of French Art Deco during the mid-1920s. In 1925, Chevalier's desk design was presented in connection with the Exposition des Arts du Livre Français, organized by Henri Clouzot at the Musée Galliera in Paris. The exhibition was described by contemporary critic Gabriel Henriot as a prelude to the landmark Exposition internationale des Arts décoratifs et industriels modernes of 1925. The exhibition brought together works by prominent figures of French decorative art, including Maurice Dufrêne, Paul Follot, Marcel Guillemard, André Fréchet, and Jules Leleu, alongside the decorative arts ateliers of the major Parisian department stores.

Its architectural form is defined by two substantial pedestal supports, their surfaces articulated by a carefully carved grid. The repetition of these geometric elements creates a striking rhythmic pattern. The warm tones of the oak are complemented by an inset brown leather writing surface, while three drawers and two enclosed storage compartments provide practical functionality. Discreet brass ring pulls complete the design without interrupting its geometric character.

Georges Chevalier (1894–1987) was a versatile French artist and decorator whose practice encompassed furniture, interiors, ceramics, and glass. Having trained at the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, he began working with the influential decorator Maurice Dufrêne in 1912. Their collaboration continued at La Maîtrise, established by Galeries Lafayette in the early 1920s under Dufrêne's artistic direction. Conceived to promote contemporary French decorative arts, the atelier brought together designers and skilled craftsmen to create furniture and objects distinguished by their artistic quality and modern sensibility. Chevalier contributed furniture and decorative designs to its collections while simultaneously developing his celebrated collaboration with the crystal manufacturer Baccarat, which had begun in 1916.