Janneau, Guillaume (1887-1981)

Le Fer À L’Exposition Internationale Des Arts Décoratifs Modernes [French Art Deco Ironwork] [Architectural Ironwork Plates] [1925 Paris Exhibition]

Paris: F. Contet, 1925. First Edition, First Printing. Portfolio of Loose Plates.

French Art Deco ironwork plates from the 1925 Paris exhibition, edited by Guillaume Janneau.

A folio portfolio documenting French Art Deco ironwork as presented at the landmark 1925 Paris exposition. Issued as a loose-plate publication, this work visually records decorative and architectural metalwork in situ, emphasizing how iron was integrated into modern interiors and architectural frameworks. Text is in French; the plates are entirely visual and accessible without language proficiency.

Physical Description: Publisher’s portfolio with purple cloth backstrip over marbled boards, secured with cloth ties. Folio, approximately 12.6 × 16.5 inches (440 × 323 mm). Four pages of introductory text followed by 42 unbound plates, complete. Plates depict appliques, balconies, balustrades, mirror frames, consoles, fire screens, radiator screens, elevator grilles, chandeliers, doors, railings, steles, tables, and related architectural ironwork. Text in French.

Condition: Portfolio worn, with sunning to spine and edgewear. Boards rubbed. Text and plates toned with occasional thumb-soiling consistent with use. All plates present. First Edition, First Printing.

Scarcity Note: Loose-plate portfolios from the 1925 exposition are increasingly uncommon in complete condition. Survival rates are lower than bound volumes due to frequent plate removal for reference or framing.

Cross-Reference / Discovery Note:
Related French architectural ironwork portfolios published by F. Contet in the 1920s, available separately; often sought under French Art Deco Ironwork.

This portfolio captures ironwork not as isolated objects but as architectural elements designed for specific spatial contexts. The plates emphasize proportion, rhythm, and integration, reflecting Art Deco’s balance between craftsmanship and modern design principles. Janneau’s editorial approach foregrounds iron as both structural and decorative, positioning metalwork as a defining feature of modern architectural expression rather than secondary ornament.

Contextual / Historical Significance:
The 1925 Paris exposition formally introduced what would become known as Art Deco, influencing architecture and decorative arts internationally. This portfolio documents ironwork as presented at that pivotal moment, offering primary visual evidence of how French designers and craftsmen adapted traditional metalworking skills to modern aesthetics. Janneau’s role as an administrator of France’s national decorative arts institutions situates the work within official efforts to define and promote modern design.

Subjects: French Art Deco ironwork, Architectural metalwork, Decorative iron design, 1925 Paris exposition, Modernist architectural details, French decorative arts, Decorative Arts, Architectural Design.

Bibliographic References
OCLC/WorldCat holdings under F. Contet architectural plate portfolios.
Referenced in surveys of Art Deco decorative arts and French architectural metalwork.

Item #21404

Price: $375.00