Mid-20th Century Modern Wood Writing Desk by Argentine Company Comte s.a., Based on a Design From Jean-Michel Frank and Chanaux & Co.

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Mid-20th century Modern wood writing desk by Argentine company Comte S.A., based on a design from Jean-Michel Frank and Chanaux … Read more Mid-20th century Modern wood writing desk by Argentine company Comte S.A., based on a design from Jean-Michel Frank and Chanaux & Co.

By: Comte S.A., Jean-Michel Frank (In the style of), Adolphe Chanaux & Co. (In the style of)
Material: wood, metal, lacquer, enamel
Technique: cast, molded, metalwork, carved, hand-carved, varnished, lacquered, enameled, hand-crafted
Dimensions: 39.5 in x 14 in x 33 in
Date: mid-20th century, circa 1940
Style: Mid-Century Modern, Art Déco, Louis XVI
Place of origin: Argentina

With its restrained geometry and elegant proportions, this mid-20th-century writing desk by the Argentine firm Comte S.A. reflects the refined aesthetic of French modernism. Crafted in wood and accented with metal fittings, the piece features a rectangular top supported by four tapering legs, each defined by subtle linear moldings that culminate in bronze sabots. The façade presents three drawers with minimalist pulls, emphasizing balance and structural clarity. Its clean contours and delicate tonal finish recall the Louis XVI–inspired designs conceived by Jean-Michel Frank, whose influence permeated Comte’s production during the 1930s and 1940s.

An original maker’s label from Comte S.A. can be found affixed to the desk, attesting to its authenticity and provenance. This piece embodies Comte’s synthesis of French neoclassical rigor and Argentine craftsmanship, merging understated ornamentation with a precise sense of proportion that reveals both the lineage of its design and the modern sensibility of its maker. See less