French architect, sculptor and designer André Arbus was destined to become one of the 20th century’s finest furniture makers. According to him, the craft was in his blood. “I come from an old family of cabinetmakers,” he once said. “From father to son for a very long time. In other words, I was born in a cabinet-making workshop.”
Born in Toulouse in 1903, Arbus spent his childhood working in his father’s business which sold reproductions of 18th century French furniture. He later studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse under sculptor Henry Parayre.
After graduating, Arbus returned to work with his father as the business’s artistic director. When his father retired, Arbus transformed the company from selling furniture reproductions to one that produced his own formidable designs, including cocktail tables, sofa tables and floor lamps that merged neoclassicism with Art Deco and featured alluring modernist characteristics.
In 1925, Arbus exhibited at several shows, including the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, Exposition des Arts Décoratifs, Salon d’Automne, the Gallery L’Epoque and won a medal at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, which brought the Art Deco style to the global stage.
Arbus moved to Paris in 1932, won the prestigious Premier Prix Blumenthal in 1934 and opened his own gallery in 1935. His sconces, chandeliers and dining room tables attracted a steady clientele of some of Paris’s wealthiest. Arbus exhibited at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York and, throughout the 1940s, received numerous notable commissions. The French government gave many of his pieces as gifts to visiting foreign heads of state. He furnished several luxury ocean liners, collaborated with Maison Veronese on a line of lighting fixtures and was tasked to build a jewel cabinet for Princess Elizabeth.
In 1946, Arbus participated in the refurbishment of the Élysée Palace and the Château de Rambouillet with fellow French architects and designers Louis Süe and Jean-Charles Moreux.
Arbus focused on sculpture throughout the 1950s until he died in 1969, drawing inspiration from eminent sculptors such as Vadim Androusov and Sylva Bernt. Today, Arbus’s works can be found in museums around the world.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage André Arbus lighting, tables and seating.
André Arbus Gilded Wood Chest of Drawers
By André Arbus
Located in Berlin, DE
An important chest of drawers by André Arbus, crafted in gilded wood with a refined bronze patina. The piece opens with two lateral compartments, each fitted with its original bronze...
Bronze
"Pantalionnière" Chest of Drawers, André Arbus (1903-1969)
By André Arbus
Located in Paris, FR
André Arbus (1903–1969), French cabinetmaker and decorator, is renowned for his refined neoclassical style that blends elegance and tradition. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts and...
Oak, Bone
Ebonized Louis XVI Chest of Drawers with Gilded Brass Details
Located in Austin, TX
Chest of drawers in the Louis XVI style from France. This piece has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous museum-quality French polish with gilded brass detailing throughout. Th...
Brass
art deco chest of drawers chest of drawers 1940s
Located in Lemmer, NL
art deco chest of drawers chest of drawers 1940s period 1940-1949 design unknown condition good light signs of use size 88 x 45 x 34 (hxwxd) details oak; iron; article n...
Oak
Giorgio Collection Chest of Drawers Japanese Tamos Burl Wood
By Giorgio Collection
Located in New York, NY
Chest in moka Japanese tamos burl veneer with high-gloss polyester finish. Six full extension drawers. Two top drawers with bottom lined in velvet. Chrome stainless steel handles and...
Chrome
Antique Biedermeier Cherry Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Antique Biedermeier Cherry Wood Chest of Drawers This exquisite Biedermeier chest of drawers, handcrafted between 1810 and 1820, embodies the elegance and simplicity of the Empire &...
Cherry
Scandinavian pine wood chest of drawers, 1980s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautifully crafted with the use of fine pine wood, this chest of drawers has been beautifully shaped and offers plenty of storage space thanks to its 4 large drawers with sturdy ha...
Pine
Small antique chest of drawers in solid wood with 3 drawers
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Brutalist - Natural decoration - Vintage Solid pine chest of drawers with three drawers. Measures : 57x30cm H:43cm
Pine
André Sornay (1902–2000) Pair of chests of drawers
By Andre Sornay
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
André Sornay (1902–2000) Pair of chests of drawers Beechwood and laminate 3 drawers Dimensions: W 104 × D 54 × H 75 cm Date: circa 1965 A beautiful pair of chests of drawers attribu...
Wood
Chest of drawers
By Zanaboni
Located in Milan, IT
Combining the dark elegance of ebony with the strikingly large grain of the ziricote wood, this oval chest of drawers is a stunning piece of functional decor that will enrich the look of any bedroom. The bold structure rests on a base in brass, which occurs also in the metal details and in the handles of the drawers. The base boasts inserts of Corteccia marble for a luxurious final effect. Matching night tables...
Marble, Brass
Italian Carved Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1920's Italian walnut semainier chest of drawers with iron pulls. Measurements: Height: 48" Width: 29.5" Depth: 16"
Walnut
Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, 1840, Elm Wood
Located in Belmont, MA
This Biedermeier chest of drawers dates back to 1840 and is an example of a chest from the late phase of the Biedermeier style. It comes from Southern Germany. The curved profile of ...
Elm
Vintage Boho Burl Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Presenting a stunning vintage burl wood chest of drawers, a piece that seamlessly blends rustic charm with modern elegance. The exquisite burl ...
Brass
$11,178
H 39.38 in W 53.55 in D 20.48 in
1950's Commode in the style of André Arbus or Maurice Rothchield
By André Arbus
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1940-1950 black commode in the style of André Arbus, with nine drawers. Gilt brass edges and sun on the apron.
Brass
Sold
H 26.58 in W 55.12 in D 16.54 in
André ARBUS (1903-1969), chest of drawers known as “Pantalonnière”
By André Arbus
Located in Paris, FR
André Arbus (1903-1969), a French cabinetmaker and decorator, is recognized for his refined neoclassical style that blends elegance and tradition. Trained at the Beaux-Arts and roote...
Wood, Parchment Paper
Andre Arbus, large Art Deco walnut chest of drawers, circa 1935
By André Arbus
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Andre Arbus, large Art Deco walnut chest of drawers, circa 1935, opening with two doors et three drawers.
Walnut