Charles Dudouyt - Credenza - Oak

Enfilade / Sideboard, Charles Dudouyt workshop, Art Deco, oak, circa 1940 – France

Exquisite Art Deco furniture from the workshop of Charles Dudouyt (1885-1947), one of the finest French furniture makers of the first half of the 20th century. Simple construction, it features two large doors on the sides, separated in the middle by four panels with a mixtilinear front. The design is completed with a mirror with rounded corners.

This piece of furniture features doors crafted with an extraordinary brutalist-inspired design. Each door is configured through a kind of double molding, with a carved frieze in four panels at the central part. In this area, the original golden brass handles appear, drawing powerful attention due to their circular shape. Inside, there are two shelves, offering ample storage capacity. The four drawers in the central area also feature a very original design, with impressive curves in their multi-axial profile. The use of oak wood is a real success, with minimal varnish applied to showcase the beautiful grain. This is well exemplified in the top surface, arranged in a checkerboard pattern, achieved through the combination of the direction of the grain. The entire piece is elevated on richly carved wooden legs, also with a brutalist appearance.

The piece exudes quality in every aspect of its conception and construction. It features characteristics typical of brutalist furniture, such as its sober silhouette and pronounced geometric shapes.

About the author

An important figure in early 20th-century design, Charles Dudouyt (1885-1947) shifted the aesthetic of French design from elaborate classicism to a more modernist sensibility. Born in 1885, Charles Dudouyt began his artistic career after studying at the Germain Pilon school. He painted, drew, and earned a living illustrating publications, particularly for Calmann-Levy and L’Assiette au Beurre. In 1918, after returning from the war, he designed and commissioned the manufacture of street lamps, lamp shades, and various decorative objects with his wife. This led him to create in 1920, in Pontoise, a rustic-style furniture factory that was fashionable at the time: L’Abeillée.

He moved to Paris in 1933 and distanced himself from French classicism, adopting more refined contemporary forms. His style found parallels with the craft movement, characterized by an honest approach to simple materials such as wood. Dudouyt's move to Paris coincided with a more ambitious production scale; he shifted from making decorative objects to large furniture sets that included tables and chairs. Opting for a contemporary style, he founded the Gentilhommière, which included a workshop and a shop. After his death, his son Jacques Dudouyt continued the activity of the Gentilhommière until 1960.

Attributed to Charles Dudouyt

Style: Art Deco

Materials: oak wood

Period: 1940s

Country of origin: France

Origin: From a private French collection

Good condition relative to its age and usage.

Total dimensions: 154 x 173 x 49 cm.

Mirror dimensions: 44 x 170 cm.

The shipping of the product will be paid by the buyer in accordance with the dimensions, weight and destination. We will contact you to arrange it and agree on the budget. Shipping costs include professionally made-to-measure packing; and the customized shipping, with tracking number and warranty. The buyer will be responsible for paying import duties and any taxes associated in the destination country, if any. Please note the seller's disclaimer of liability regarding possible customs charges, as they are charged in the destination country and the amount payable is determined by the customs authority of that country. If an export permit is required, the costs are borne by the buyer. The cost depends progressively on the value of the artwork to be exported. LARGE DIMENSIONS, THE SHIPPING AMOUNT WILL BE AGREED WITH THE BUYER.

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