Held in the Perelman Collection since its last auction offerings in 1988 as part of the much-publicized Andy Warhol sales at Sotheby’s New York, the present cabinet combines elegance of materials and originality of design. With little archival information, the piece is particularly rare and incredibly significant within the oeuvre of Pierre Legrain. Almost entirely covered in shagreen, one of the artist’s mediums of predilection, and punctꦜuated by two mirrored glass panels to the front, the cabinet provokes by its modern aesthetic, achieved through a simple rectangular yet robust composition and delicately curved edges on the upper and lower corners of the piece. Africanist influences and the superimposition of materials are relatively absent from this work, allowing the dynamic shagreen panels, beautifully placed across the surfaces, to be the focus of attention.

The cabinet is further enhanced with stellar provenance dating back to the collection of legendary French Art Deco dealer Félix Marcilhac. The piece eventually made its way to the New York City residence of Andy Warhol, of which we have extensive photographic documentation. In the company of furniture by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, vases by Jean Dunand and paintings by Cy Twombly and Roy Lichtಞenstein, the present cabinet was placed by a window in the living room, making it a central component of the space. After over three decades in the present collection, this significant work with rich history provides the opportunity for collectors to acquire a rare furniture piece from an icon of Art Deco design.