Brass and Black Lacquered Metal Side Table with Amber Celluloid Shelves by Guy Lefèvre for Maison Jansen, circa 1970

This refined side table is a characteristic example of the inventive material combinations deployed by Guy Lefèvre in his modernist furniture for Maison Jansen. The architectural structure combines polished brass and black lacquered metal in a precisely resolved geometric composition, while the shelves are executed in amber celluloid — a warm, translucent synthetic material that catches the light with an almost honeyed glow. The interplay between the cool rigour of the black metal, the luminosity of the polished brass, and the amber warmth of the celluloid shelves creates a visual richness that is entirely characteristic of Lefèvre’s approach to luxury furniture design at its most experimental.

Guy Lefèvre (1933–2012) was one of the leading figures in French interior decoration and furniture design during the 1960s and 1970s. As Maison Jansen’s principal designer following the tenure of Stéphane Boudin, he brought a boldly modernist sensibility to the storied house, combining traditional luxury materials — brass, lacquer, rare stones — with unexpected industrial or synthetic elements to create a distinctive language of high-end modernism. His work for Jansen attracted the patronage of some of the most sophisticated collectors of the era, and his pieces are today among the most actively sought examples of French 1970s decorative arts. The use of amber celluloid for the shelves in this piece is typical of the material curiosity that set his designs apart from those of his contemporaries.

Presented in very good vintage condition, consistent with its age and provenance. W. 60.5 cm × D. 30.5 cm × H. 55.4 cm.