A French wall sconce from the 1950s by Jacques Adnet, translating equestrian language into lighting.

The sconce is structured around a long strap of dark brown leather, folded through a brass ring at the top and secured with a substantial brass buckle. The construction deliberately recalls traditional saddlery, with punched holes, layered leather, and visible edge stitching giving the piece the character of a functional harness rather than a conventional wall light.

At the base, an oversized brass stirrup hangs directly from the leather strap, creating an open sculptural form beneath the light. A curved leather-wrapped arm projects forward to support the socket and shade, introducing depth while maintaining the narrow vertical profile. The brass has developed a warm patina that sits naturally against the aged leather.

Adnet frequently brought leather and metal together in unexpected ways, drawing on the precision of French leatherworking to give modern objects a tailored quality. Here, the equestrian references are explicit, with the buckle, strap, rings, and stirrup becoming the architecture of the sconce itself.

About Jacques Adnet
Jacques Adnet (1900–1984) was a master of modern design, acclaimed for his deft handling of materials and elegant invention over a six-decade career. Trained at the École des Arts Décoratifs under architect Charles Louis Genuys, Adnet gained early recognition for seamlessly merging medium and form, employing glass, parchment-covered wood, and metals in works that moved fluidly from the Art Deco spirit into a timeless modern idiom.

Appointed director of La Compagnie des Arts Français in 1927, he steered the firm into the vanguard of French design, collaborating with luminaries such as Charlotte Perriand and René Herbst while elevating interiors with a rigor both classical and forward-looking. His collaborations with Jacques Lenoble introduced fine ceramic mosaics into furniture design, transforming utilitarian forms into richly material statements.