Dark Green Saddle-Stitched Leather and Glass Pen Tray, Jacques Adnet Style, c.1950

This refined pen tray is a characteristic piece from a desk set conceived in the manner of Jacques Adnet — one of the most admired and emulated designers in the French decorative arts of the mid-20th century. A shallow rectangular form, it presents a dark green leather surround worked with the fine cream saddle-stitching of the sellier tradition along its outer edges, while the centre is occupied by a faceted glass insert that provides a cool, lustrous surface on which pens, pencils, or other writing instruments can rest. The overall effect is one of sober, disciplined luxury — the hallmark of Adnet’s design philosophy.

Jacques Adnet made the combination of dark green or black leather with brass and glass his most distinctive signature. His desk accessories, produced for a discerning clientele of Parisian professionals, collectors, and grands bourgeois, became icons of French mid-century interior decoration. The pen tray, the letter rack, the blotter, the ink stand — each element of the desk set was treated with the same rigorous attention to material and proportion, creating ensembles that were at once supremely functional and deeply beautiful. This pen tray, whether from Adnet’s own atelier or from a skilled workshop working in his tradition, fully embodies those values.

The piece is part of a small group of matching accessories offered by Maison BARROIS, which together form a coherent desk ensemble in the Adnet spirit. Each piece is equally beautiful displayed alone. The dark green leather has developed a warm vintage patina while retaining its depth of colour and the precision of its stitching.

A beautiful and functional piece of French mid-century design. Dimensions: W. 28.5 × D. 11.1 × H. 4 cm.