French Leather Floor Lamp in the Manner of Jacques Adnet, 1950s

A French floor lamp from the 1950s, in the manner of Jacques Adnet, the tall, slender stem is wrapped entirely in warm, cognac leather, finished with precise saddle stitching that runs vertically along its length. The leather has developed a rich, warm patina, giving softness and texture to a rigorous profile. 

Below, three tapered brass legs radiate from a central fitting to form a spare tripod base, keeping the lamp visually light despite its height.

Above, a parchment shade continues the emphasis on hand-finished detail. Its softly tapered form is finished with visible stitching along the vertical seam and edges, echoing the construction of the leather-wrapped stem. The parchment filters the light into a warm, atmospheric glow, while the original brass fittings and hardware carry the material language through the entire piece.

The combination of leather, brass, and stitched parchment is particularly characteristic of French design of the period, where traditional saddlery techniques were applied to modern forms. Here, those materials are reduced to a remarkably simple silhouette, the craftsmanship revealed in the seams, edges, and subtle aging of each surface.

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.