André Domin and Marcel Genevrière

ANDRÉ DOMIN (1883–1962) & MARCEL GENEVRIÈRE (1885–1967) for Maison Dominique.
Art Deco chair, France, 1920.
Wood and foal leather upholstery.
Measurements: 80 x 54 x 50 cm; 48 cm (seat height).
Art Deco chair with a wooden frame featuring geometric, slanted, Cubist-inspired armrests that extend forcefully forward, resting on angled rear legs and tapered front legs, subtly anticipating the structural trends of Mid-Century Modern.The use of natural-hair leathers and unprecedented exotic textures was a hallmark of modern French luxury during the interwar period, breaking with classic smooth leather or traditional brocades.
André Domin and Marcel Genevrière founded Maison Dominique in Paris in 1922, one of the most unique firms in interwar French design. Their work developed within the context of the consolidation of Art Deco, though from a particularly modern perspective, marked by geometry, the influence of Cubism, and a rejection of excessive ornamentation. Maison Dominique first gained recognition through its participation in the 1922 Salon d’Automne and achieved significant prominence at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris. In 1926, Domin and Genevrière, along with Pierre Chareau, Pierre Legrain, Jean Puiforcat, and Raymond Templier, formed the renowned Groupe des Cinq, associated with the renewal of French design and the search for a design language distinct from historicist revival. During the 1930s, the firm received particularly significant commissions, including the interior of one of the luxury suites on the ocean liner Normandie, and after World War II, it worked for French institutions, including the Élysée Palace. André Domin left the firm in 1953, and his son Alain continued to run it until its closure in 1970.