Paul Follot small painted beechwood cabinet 1920

This bonheur du jour cabinet, in blue and green lacquered wood with gold accents, was crafted in the early 1920s by Paul Follot, and beautifully embodies his refined sense of elegance and delicacy. This painted beechwood cabinet stands on four tapered legs with bevelled edges, adorned with green lacquered passementerie like motifs. The two doors feature large, stylized roses, painted and gilded, subtly contrasting with the deep blue. The upper surface is decorated with a grid of small gold dots and edged with a sculpted twisted motif. Paul Follot’s designs stand out for their balanced mix of tradition and modernity, blending stylized patterns typical of Art Nouveau with simple geometric forms that characterise Art Deco. It has been fully restored, polished with traditional shellac varnish, reviving the colours and enhancing the contrast of this beautiful piece

Literature : Léopold Diego Sanchez, Paul Follot: Un artiste décorateur parisien, AAM Editions, 2020, different color on the cover ; A. Novi, Intérieurs modernes, Éditions d'Art Charles Moreau, Paris, planche 18 ; Guillaume Janneau, Notre enquête sur le mobilier moderne, Paul Follot, Art et Décoration, 1921, tome 2, page 143 and page 144.

Paul Follot (1877–1941) was a renowned French artist and decorator known for his work in Art Nouveau and later Art Deco. Coming from a family of artisans, he showed a keen interest in art and design from a young age. As a student at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he was influenced by masters like Émile Gallé and Hector Guimard and began his career as an apprentice to Eugène Grasset, a leading figure of Art Nouveau. Follot created sculptural furniture and decorative objects, often adorned with floral motifs and nature-inspired forms. Over time, he shifted towards Art Deco and became an iconic figure in this movement, favouring geometric shapes, clean lines, and a more restrained color palette. He was also a pioneer in using innovative materials, incorporating glass, metal, and leather into his creations. In 1925, Follot participated in the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, where Art Deco gained official recognition.