Table (Primary Title)
Jean-Michel Frank, French, 1895 - 1941 (Artist)
Jean-Michel Frank, a successful designer and decorator in Paris, received commissions from many European and American patrons, including Nelson Rockefeller, Templeton Crocker of San Francisco, and the fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. After fleeing his country during World War II, Frank moved to South America and then on to New York, where he died in 1941. He used exotic materials in unique ways and also showed a high degree of sophistication. The frames of this table and pair of chairs are covered in shagreen (sharkskin), the natural color and irregular pattern of which appealed to Art Deco designers and injected an exotic design element that was sought after by clients.
Gift of Sydney and Frances Lewis
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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