JACQUES-ÉMILE RUHLMANN
Model 276 NR in Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann’s repertoire.
H 35 - L 39 3/8 - D 33 1/2 in.
Sitting Height 85 cm. (33.46 in.)
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Nicknamed the “Elephant” armchair for its imposing silhouette and armrests reminiscent of massive legs, this model stands out as one of the most distinctive creations in Ruhlmann’s repertoire. First presented at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs in 1926, it left a lasting impression and quickly became a benchmark of modern comfort, continuing the tradition of the “comfortable armchair” without visible wood while giving it a new sense of scale.
In 1931, the Palais des Colonies (today the Palais de la Porte Dorée) became one of the landmarks of the Art Deco era: Ruhlmann designed the furnishings for the Salon d’Afrique, while Eugène Printz created those of the Salon d’Asie in palmwood (patawa), a material prized for its hardness, contributing to the aesthetic unity of a true art total. This scenography resonated with the monumental façade by Alfred Janniot, populated with exotic fauna — including the elephant — offering a direct echo to the presence of animal forms in the decorative vocabulary of the period.
Exhibitions
This armchair model was first presented at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs in 1926.Literature
Florence Camard, 'Ruhlmann', Éditions du Regard, Paris, 1983, p. 263.'Ruhlmann: Un Génie de l'Art Déco', exh. cat., Musée des Années 30, Boulogne-Billancourt, 2001, p. 186.
Alastair Duncan, Art Déco, 'Encyclopédie des arts décoratifs des années vingt et trente', Citadelles et Mazenod, 2009, same model on p. 78.