Charles Dudouyt Art Deco Extendable Dining Table in Stained Oak

Charles Dudouyt, dining table, oak, France, 1940s.

This Art Deco table shows the great craftsmanship of Charles Dudouyt. The tabletop in inlayed with different pieces of wood, creating a beautiful pattern thanks to the different drawings. The base and legs are thick and robust. This table has a sturdy appearance, and is more robust than most Art Deco items. Designers Charles Dudouyt and Gaston Poisson are masters in this style. They combine the more feminine and refined Art Deco style with graphical patterns and masculine elements.

Charles Dudouyt (1885-1946) was a French artist and furniture designer. Dudouyt completed his art studies at the l’École Germain Pilon in Paris, which is nowadays known as the ‘École des Arts Appliques’ (ENSAAMA). Soon after graduation, Dudouyt started his carreer as an artist. He earned a living by making illustrations for the French publisher Calmann-Levy and the satircal anarchist magazine ‘l’Assiette au Beurre’. As many of his French compatriots, Dudouyt was send to war as a soldier during World War I. After the German capitulation in 1918, he returned home and started designing floor lamps, shades and various decorative items, some of them he designed together with his wife. After two years he established a furniture manufactory in Pontoise, near Paris. It was called ‘l’Abeillée’, and here he produced furniture in a rustic yet fashionable design. In 1933, after moving to Paris, Dudouyt founded ‘La Gentilhommière where he opted for a more contemporary style. Soon after World War II, Dudouyt, who was a widely celebrated furniture designer in France by that time, passed away. His son Jacques took over the manufactury which was up and running until 1960. Dudouyt is particulary known for his Art Deco designs, often using playful geometries and construction methods, and the use of high-quality solid oak, preferably quarter sawn. His usage of an honest approach to simple materials such as wood, reminds of the robust Arts and Crafts Movement. One of his legacies is the fact that Dudouyt modernized the traditional French rustic style of furniture. Furthermore, he made quality design furniture more accessible for the common people and therefore is highly appreciated as interwar and postwar designer. He collaborated with other artists, such as the French sculptor Jean René Debarre (1907 – 1968).

Width of the table when extended: 280 cm / 110.24 inches
Width of the table when not extended: 159.5 cm / 62.80 inches

Please note that this item is in a used condition with visible signs of age and use, including spots, color-fading and imperfections in the veneer. Restoration is possible before shipping by our experienced craftsman and -women in our own in-house restoration atelier. With high attention for the original, they make sure every piece retains its value and is ready for the many years to come. We kindly ask you to contact our design experts for further information about the endless possibilities our restoration and upholstery atelier has to offer. Of course, a locally organized restoration is possible as well.

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