Living room furniture by Paul Follot (1877-1941), Art Deco period

A beechwood living room set comprising a bench with a pair of cushions, two bergère armchairs, and two chairs with flat, sloping backs. The backs and seat rails are decorated with floral motifs carved in relief and interwoven with drapery, reminiscent of Art Nouveau designs. The bench rests on four fluted legs, while the bergère armchairs and chairs have straight, fluted front legs and saber-shaped rear legs. The seat cushions and backs are entirely upholstered in period blue fabric with a diamond pattern. One armrest of the bench folds down to create a guest bed (it can be completely removed). The bench mattress has a removable cover. The set is in good condition with some signs of wear. Sofa dimensions: H: 80 cm, W: 160 cm (as a sofa) and 200 cm (as a guest bed), D: 77 cm. Wingback chair dimensions: H: 92 cm, W: 74 cm, D: 65 cm. Chair dimensions: H: 95 cm, W: 44 cm, D: 44 cm. French cabinetmaker and decorator Paul Follot (1877-1941) was a designer whose 1925-style works remain marked by Art Nouveau. A student of Grasset, he retained from his master's teachings a taste for motifs and wood carvings. These stylized motifs, baskets of flowers or fruit, generally executed by Laurent Malclès, are carved in solid wood. However, the forms of his furniture stand out from those of the preceding period: his chairs, for example, are more akin to those of the Louis XVI or Empire styles (medallion back, saber legs). Follot was not only a furniture maker, but also a theorist (he was a professor of the advanced course in decorative arts for the City of Paris): he provided designs for complete ensembles and had the fabrics, carpets, and ceramics produced by various technicians. His taste for luxurious pieces did not prevent him from also turning to mass-produced furniture, taking over the direction of the Bon Marché department store's art workshop, Pomone, in 1923. Art Deco period, circa 1930