Galerie Mathivet

Art deco cabinet with decorative motif of the four seasons
A masterpiece from the 1930s, this piece of furniture marks the culmination of modernity in the Art Deco movement by the presence of metal in its purified form, but also bears within it the seeds of the 1940s style as regards the decoration of its neo-romantic façade. This is a particularly rare piece – a similar model but with different decorative motifs was shown at the exhibition entitled ‘les Décorateurs des Années 40’ organized by the city of Boulogne-Billancourt from 17 November 1998 to 16 January 1999.

This cabinet, made in 1936, characteristic of Art Deco furniture as regards its highly geometric edges, the use of duralumin (an aluminium-based alloy that was frequently used in aeronautics in the 1930s), and the chromatic contrast between black and silver, offers a foretaste of the spirit of the 1940s. The panel scenes by Adrien Ekman, representing an allegory of the 4 seasons, of nature and the arts, are indeed typical of the freshness, colour and gaiety of works from the 1940s. They lend a poetic air to this strict piece of furniture, giving it the status of an artwork in its own right.

Cabinet, circa 1936
René Drouet (France 1899-1993)
Duralumin, lacquered wood and glass
Each painted glass panel is signed by A. Ekman
H 120 x W 130 cm

Exhibited by the Galerie Mathivet (Paris) – stand no. 60