Andre' Sornay Biography
André Sornay, born in Lyon, France, in 1902, was a notable designer of avant-garde French furniture. During his short but significant career, Sornay developed production techniques that contributed significantly to the minimalist and modernist aesthetic of the era. Along with renowned designers such as Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Charpin, Sornay stood out as an extremely innovative talent. Despite his impact, Sornay is probably the least internationally known of the French modernists, mainly due to his professional activity away from the cultural spotlight of Paris, in his hometown of Lyon, still a rural place at the time.
Sornay began his career immediately after graduating in 1918 from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Lyon. After his father's death in 1919, he took over the family furniture business. He made a bold decision, shifting the company's focus from period reproductions to modernist-designed furniture. His cabinets, chairs, and tables were characterized by clean lines, understated decoration, and the unconventional use of exotic woods such as rosewood, mahogany, and sanded Oregon pine. This new range of products boosted Sornay's career and in 1925 he was selected to exhibit at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris.
During the financial crash of 1929, Sornay developed his signature technique, called "cloutage", which involves applying a series of perfectly proportioned nails to the outside of veneered furniture panels. Patented in 1932, "cloutage" made it possible to lower production costs without compromising the functionality or elegance of furniture. This technique was used extensively by Sornay in the 1930s, both for cabinets and multi-level tables, right up to his distinctive rosewood and mahogany armchairs of 1935.
Despite the success he achieved in his career, in the late 1950s Sornay handed over control of his design company to his children and pursued other professional paths.
