Charles Dudouyt Art Deco Sideboard in Darkened Oak With Copper Details

Charles Dudouyt, sideboard, darkened oak, copper, France, 1940

This sturdy credenza in oak is truly a sculptural piece. It is equipped with three doors hiding several shelves and a drawer which provide plenty of storage space. The detailing of handles and locks is made of copper. The graphic, rhythmical door panels are a signature relief seen more often on Charles Dudouyt work and shows his great craftsmanship.

Charles Dudouyt (1885-1946) was a French artist and furniture designer. Dudouyt completed his art studies at the l’École Germain Pilon in Paris, which is nowadays known as the ‘École des Arts Appliques’ (ENSAAMA). Soon after graduation, Dudouyt started his carreer as an artist. He earned a living by making illustrations for the French publisher Calmann-Levy and the satircal anarchist magazine ‘l’Assiette au Beurre’. As many of his French compatriots, Dudouyt was send to war as a soldier during World War I. After the German capitulation in 1918, he returned home and started designing floor lamps, shades and various decorative items, some of them he designed together with his wife. After two years he established a furniture manufactory in Pontoise, near Paris. It was called ‘l’Abeillée’, and here he produced furniture in a rustic yet fashionable design. In 1933, after moving to Paris, Dudouyt founded ‘La Gentilhommière where he opted for a more contemporary style. Soon after World War II, Dudouyt, who was a widely celebrated furniture designer in France by that time, passed away. His son Jacques took over the manufactury which was up and running until 1960. Dudouyt is particulary known for his Art Deco designs, often using playful geometries and construction methods, and the use of high-quality solid oak, preferably quarter sawn. His usage of an honest approach to simple materials such as wood, reminds of the robust Arts and Crafts Movement. One of his legacies is the fact that Dudouyt modernized the traditional French rustic style of furniture. Furthermore, he made quality design furniture more accessible for the common people and therefore is highly appreciated as interwar and postwar designer. He collaborated with other artists, such as the French sculptor Jean René Debarre (1907 – 1968).

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