Lot 217: Pierre Patout, Armchairs from the First-Class dining room of the S.S, Normandie (2)

Armchairs from the First-Class dining room of the S.S, Normandie (2)

Each 35" x 23" x 21"

Mahogany, bronze sabots, upholstered seat and back

Designed c. 1935

Literature: Vian, Louis-Rene, Art Décoratifs a bord des Paquebots Francais, Éditions Fonmare, Paris, 1994, pp 213, 216, 217, 224-226 (contemporary photograph of the chairs in-situ in the 1st Class dining room, SS Normandie).

The 1st Class dining room on the SS Normandie from where this pair of chairs originated was the very height of taste and refinement when it was launched in 1935 Measuring 305 ft long, 46 ft wide and 28ft high, the room was punctuated by 12 illuminated pillars by Rene Lalique and decorative bronze medallions by Raymond Subes.The underside of each chair has a wooden stretcher with four screw holes, which previously accommodated a device to anchor the chairs to the floor in the event of a rough crossing.