Maison Desny was one of the most exclusive workshops between 1927 and 1933. Desny was distinguished by an ultra-modern, geometric, and functionalist style.
It was founded in Paris in 1927 by Clément Nauny and Jean-Pierre Desnet (from whose surname the name "Desny" is derived). Its headquarters were on the prestigious Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
They primarily used metals with industrial finishes and glass. They were experts at playing with the reflection of light.
They are world-famous for their lamps. They also designed rugs and furniture for high-society clients.
Maison Desny had a very short life. Due to the economic crisis following the 1929 crash and the early death of Jean-Pierre Desnet in 1933, the workshop closed its doors.
Its pieces are found in several museums:
Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris)
MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)
Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (New York)
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Style Art Deco
"The name Art Deco was assigned in the 1960s, at the exhibition "Les Années 25" held in Paris at the Museum of Decorative Arts.
The first pieces could be seen at the International Exhibition of "Decorative Arts and Modern Industry" held in Paris in 1925. This exhibition was a direct response to the Turin exhibitions of 1902 and Milan of 1906.
The Art Deco style emerged between 1920 and 1940 and is represented by symmetrical, rectilinear lines, abstract designs, and bold colors.
It featured the implementation of exotic materials such as parchment, shagreen (the skin of a small shark or ray), chrome pieces, and enamels, as well as ivory and mother-of-pearl inlays.
In contrast, Art Nouveau was more focused on asymmetrical, curved lines inspired by nature."
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