Rare René Drouet Three-Seat Sofa in Olive Green Velvet and Walnut

Attributed to René Drouet, three-seat sofa, corduroy velvet, walnut, France, 1930s

Attributed to the French decorator René Drouet, this sofa is an example of French Art Deco. The structure of the piece is spare and orderly, yet with a certain grandeur, featuring clean lines, a high positioned back, and subtly contoured backrest and armrests. The walnut feet act as both structural support and aesthetic punctuation; stepped, rectilinear profile subtly references the horizontal, streamlined tendencies of Art Deco architecture.

René Drouet (1899-1993) had his origins in Puteaux, a city located close to Paris. Drouet, particularly known as a decorator, received recognition for his work in 1929 at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, and was also featured in several magazines such as Mobilier et Décoration. Drouet operated a store at 104, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where he served an affluent clientele by furnishing their apartments. Drouet's furniture designs were characterized by their logical and straightforward style. His oeuvre of the thirties is defined by full shapes that were not overly heavy and had discreet, yet elegant curves. Following the Second World War, Drouet embraced the Art Deco style, incorporating more ornate decorative elements into his designs. He utilized materials such as oxidized mirrors and lacquers to create trompe l'oeil effects, and incorporated more fantastical elements, for example in the padded seats which had a baroque aesthetic.

Please note that we advise reupholstery before use. This item contains threadbare upholstery. Reupholstery can be done before shipping by our experienced craftspeople in our own in-house restoration atelier. With high attention for the original, they make sure every piece retains its value and is ready for the many years to come. We kindly ask you to contact our design experts for further information about the endless possibilities our restoration and upholstery atelier has to offer. Of course, a locally organized reupholstery is possible as well.