French Leather + Brass Table Lamp in the Manner of Jacques Adent, 1980s

A French table lamp from the 1980s, executed in the manner of Jacques Adnet.

A cylindrical leather shade appears to float above a slender brass column. Wrapped in rich burgundy leather, the shade introduces warmth and texture to the piece. Fine stitched detailing traces its edges, a subtle gesture that reveals the hand of the maker and recalls the tradition of French leather craftsmanship. Beneath it, the fluted brass stem provides contrast—its polished surface catching light while emphasizing the lamp’s verticality.

The base continues the dialogue between materials, combining leather and brass in a composition that feels cohesive from every angle. Placed on a desk, console, or bedside table, the lamp creates a focused pool of light while contributing a strong visual presence. The leather softens the glow, while the brass introduces a note of refinement that shifts throughout the day as light moves across its surface.

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.