Showrooms

French Art Deco Leather & Macassar Ebony sideboard by Maurice Rinck 1940's

Creator: Maurice Rinck
Offered by: Habitat-Gallery

Description
Step into luxury French Art Deco with this stunning sideboard designed by none other than Maurice Rinck, a visionary and key player in Art Deco design alongside icons like Jules Leleu and Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. This circa 1940s masterpiece is a beautiful combination of sleek design and timeless elegance, perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of history and artistry to their space.

The sideboard is an absolute showstopper, featuring a central leather-clad door and an ultra-luxurious body wrapped in rich Macassar ebony—a type of exotic wood prized for its deep, striking black and brown stripes that mimic the natural beauty of a tiger's coat. Macassar ebony is revered for its rarity and strength, making it an expensive material often reserved for only the finest, most prestigious furniture.

With its impeccable restoration and a gleaming French polish finish, this piece truly sparkles. Now, let’s talk about that French polish—it’s a labor-intensive process where layers of shellac are hand-applied and polished to a mirror-like finish. This technique gives the sideboard its deep, glossy shine while preserving the natural beauty of the wood. Few pieces receive such attention to detail these days, making this finish both rare and highly coveted.

The sideboard features three beautifully balanced doors, each revealing a single shelf with the door on the far right also having a single drawer. What sets these shelves apart is the intricate inlay work along the outward-facing edges—a testament to the artisan's eye for detail. The middle shelf, in particular, stands out with a slightly different inlay, adding an extra layer of charm. Open the doors, and you’ll find quarter-sawn oak lining the interior. Quarter-sawn oak is no ordinary wood; it's cut at a specific angle to reveal the wood's natural medullary rays, producing a unique grain pattern. This cutting method also increases the wood's stability and resistance to warping, but it's more costly due to the additional time and material required. The result? A durable, stunning interior that matches the opulence of the exterior.

But what really steals the show are the sabre legs. These striking, ebonized legs seem to hover off the floor, effortlessly holding up the chonky body of the credenza. With their sleek, black finish and brass-capped feet, the legs perfectly echo the dark banding on the Macassar ebony body, creating a harmonious and balanced look that commands attention.

To top it off, this credenza comes with working locks and keys for each door, complete with elegant nickel-plated bronze hardware. Every inch of this piece speaks to craftsmanship and luxury—Rinck's hallmark.

Dimensions:

Width: 77.5"
Depth: 19.75"
Height: 40"
Maurice Rinck’s Legacy Maurice Rinck was an Art Deco innovator who carried his family’s prestigious furniture business into the modern era. Alongside contemporaries like Jules Leleu and Ruhlmann, Rinck helped define French luxury interiors between the 1930s and 1960s. Known for combining traditional craftsmanship with the sleek lines of modernism, Rinck’s work gained international acclaim. His pieces often reflected the Art Deco movement’s affinity for rich materials, clean lines, and meticulous attention to detail.

This sideboard, with its sumptuous use of Macassar ebony and elegant design, is a perfect example of his ability to merge modern aesthetics with timeless craftsmanship. Whether you're a collector or someone who simply appreciates the finer things in life, this sideboard isn't just furniture—it's a piece of art and history, worthy of any stylish home.

More Information

Documentation:	Ample Provenance
Origin:	France
Period:	1920-1949
Materials:	Macassar ebony, leather, metal
Condition:	Good. This piece has been expertly refinished. There is a small hole in the back at the top of the credenza that was used to put a cord through.
Creation Date:	C. 1940's
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Art Deco, Art Nouveau
Incollect Reference #:	757554