Art Deco Buffet Sideboard Attributed to MAXIME OLD

MAXIME OLD

Maxime Old was born in 1910 to a family of ébénistes, or master cabinet makers, in Maisons Alfort, a suburb of Paris. His father and grandfather had held shops for decades in the Faubourg St. Antoine, an area renowned for their trade.

After graduating from the École Boulle, Old joined the studio of Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, where he worked for several years. He took away an intimate knowledge of how innovative projects could be executed effectively, as well as the consummate importance of drawing, of achieving perfection in design. Ruhlmann’s aesthetic, and that of the Deco period in general, can still be seen in his work. There exist for instance, a certain luxurious curvature, the use of uncommon metals, lush finishes, rare woods like cherry, ash, and walnut, and the employment of plush upholstery.

But Old’s work has a character of its very own. While reminiscent in certain ways to the work of designers who preceded him, Old’s work is more interesting for its innovations, and his efforts are perhaps responsible for the shift in preferences toward cleaner designs. While certain forms of the Deco period are certainly present, Old’s aesthetic as a whole is sleeker, more simple, and sculptural – in effect, more modern.

Examles of Old’s work can be found in most international collections notably the Musee des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Met in New York. This piece was in the private collection of an infamous French collector and dealer based in Le Touquet until its purchase a decade ago by the current owners