The Art Deco movement, begun in Paris in 1925, greatly influenced a wide range of creative disciplines including architecture, transportation and furniture design as well as giving birth to a period of exploration in new materials, both man-made and natural. Palm wood became one of those exciting new materials and was greatly embraced by one of the most influential furniture designers of the period, Eugene Printz, 1889-1948.
Also featured are contemporary furniture builders who have continued to explore palm, following the evolution of the Art Deco Movement as well as modern design possibilities. In conclusion with almost 100 years of history in western furniture design, we hope the following images will offer an entry point to the wide range of possibilities working with this vibrant, sustainable and still rare tropical resource.
Marshall Lyautey’s Mansion – Colonial Exhibition Paris, France 1931
By request of Herbert Lyautey, Resident General of the French Protectorate
In Morocco
Architect Albert Laprade 1883-1978
Furniture Eugene Printz
(Private Collection/Bridgeman Images)
Desk, Circa 1925
Eugene Printz
(Private Collection/Bridgeman Images)
Chair set, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Private Collection/Bridgeman Images)
Desk and 8 sides book shelve, Circa 1928
Eugene Printz
(Private Collection/Bridgeman Images)
Console, Circa 1940
Eugene Printz
(Private Collection/Bridgeman Images)
Sofa, Circa 1947
Eugene Printz
(Private Collection/Bridgeman Images)
Marshall Lyautey’s Mansion – Colonial Exhibition Paris, France 1931
By request of Herbert Lyautey, Resident General of the French Protectorate In Morocco
Architect Albert Laprade 1883-1978 | Furniture Eugene Printz | Courtesy of Jean-Pierre Martel 2015 ©
Barrel Ring Desk, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Barrel Ring Desk, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Console/Sideboard, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Console/Sideboard, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Console/Sideboard, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
“An important Desk”, Circa 1932
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Console/Sideboard, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Console/Sideboard, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Console/Sideboard, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Small Palm Box, Circa 1930
Eugene Printz
(Courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Jean-Paul Viollet, Circa 2014
Olivier Nisch, Circa 2012
Olivier Nisch, Circa 2012
Olivier Nisch, Circa 2012
Jean-Paul Viollet, Circa 2014
Jean-Paul Viollet, Circa 2014
Jean-Paul Viollet, Circa 2014
Jean-Paul Viollet, Circa 2014
This video with expanded images and history of the Art Deco Movement starting with the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, offers a little more taste of the period and palm’s place in this history. We hope that this will lead you to explore further the works of Eugene Printz, Pierre Chareau, Clement Rousseau, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Robert Mallet-Stevens, Jean Dunand and many others of this period and consider creating a master piece of your own from sustainable Durapalm.
