55 rue de Babylone, located in the center of Paris’ fashionable 7th arrondissement, is perhaps best known as the former address of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. Before the couple moved in, the apartment belonged to Marie Cuttoli, the august designer widely recognized for reviving the Aubusson tapestry industry in the 1930s and for supporting modern artists such as Fernand Léger, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso.
The present console table originally belonged to Cuttoli and was installed in her rue de Babylone apartment. In 1947, Art Present magazine published a photograph showing this table flanked by two Cubist paintings. Though the designer of the table remains unknown, the sleek glass panes and brass details reflect the modernist sensibilities of avant-garde designers working in France during the 1930s. Michel Guy, former Minister of Culture in France, later acquired the table.
Provenance
Marie Cuttoli, Paris Michel Guy, Paris Christie's, Paris, "Arts Décoratifs du XXe siècle et Design," November 25, 2013, lot 23 Private collection, France, acquired from the above Christie's, Paris, "Design," November 14, 2018, lot 30 Acquired from the above by the present owner
Literature
Art Present, Paris, 1947, illustrated p. 41
Property from a Private International Collection
88
Console table
1930s Glass, brass, painted wood. 25 1/4 x 75 x 18 in. (64.1 x 190.5 x 45.7 cm)