ene Drouet is little known in the United States, save for savvy collectors of late Art Deco and Hollywood glam. But ask almost anyone interested in Art Deco in France and they will recognize the name instantly. Furniture maker, interior designer and gallery owner, Rene Drouet and his style are symbolic of 1940s glamour.
Although little has been written about Rene Drouet [1899-1993], his work speaks volumes. Described as French Art Deco, most of his designs were produced after 1940, well after the peak of Art Deco had passed. Drouet was prodigious, designing almost everything: tables, chairs, floor lamps, wall sconces, mirrors, even fire screens. He worked predominately in forged iron, gilt iron, bronze and lacquer, typically applying his signature, scroll-like motifs. Experts believe he was inspired by the work of Maurice Dufrene [1876-1955], a major Art Deco designer and a founding member of the Salon des Artistes Decorateur.
During the 1940s, wrought iron and mirrored furniture sold well and Drouet responded in kind. One exquisite example of his work is a bar cabinet, sold by Buenos Aires-based Arte y Antiguedades Flavio Seratti. With finely etched floral designs on the mirrored panels, the cabinet epitomizes the glamour and dazzle of the post-war 1940s. It is also a transition piece: with their cures and loops the legs are firmly rooted in the Art Deco style of the 1920s and 30s, while the floral-etched mirrored cabinet reflects the Hollywood glamour of the second half of the 1940s. It is truly a classic 1940s cabinet.
Drouet sold his work in his gallery at 104 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore in Paris, where he also held shows for artists such as Erte. Today, Drouet furniture sells in the range of $5,000 to $50,000 —if you are lucky enough to find a piece.
53.5" H X 36.2" W X 17.3"
V&M #: 147755
$25,000
Drouet furniture is easy to identify. No other designer of the period comes close to his style!
- Use of hand-forged iron or bronze
- Scroll designs, usually in a curlicue pattern
- Tapered legs
- Gold leaf or gilt finish over wrought iron
- Pre-war work is often in marble, parchment UNCLEAR and lacks the later scroll designs
