Although he is among the least known of the like-minded French Art Deco furniture designers of his era, André Sornay introduced innovative fabrication techniques and a unique decorative style to his modernist seating, case pieces and other creations.
Sornay was born in Lyon in 1902, and graduated from École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon in 1918. His career as a furniture designer began in 1919 when he was appointed head of his family’s furniture company after his father’s death.
In the early 1920s — inspired by the Bauhaus and De Stijl as well as his friends and fellow French avant-garde designers Francis Jourdain and Pierre Chareau — Sornay shifted the company’s focus from manufacturing period reproductions to creating contemporary designs.
Sornay’s work fused tradition with modernism. He preferred to work with metals, exotic woods such as mahogany and rosewood, rubber and Duco lacquer for a range of cabinets, desks, chairs and mirrors. Sornay’s pieces featured sleek brass drawer pulls and sharply geometric lines, and the distinctive mode that he worked in was known throughout Lyon as “Le Style Sornay.”
Sornay was also recognized for his inventive design methods that were not only decorative but functional. In 1932, he patented the cloudage technique — studding the perimeter of veneered furniture panels with uniform brass nails. Sornay integrated this technique into his wardrobes, side tables and the armchairs he designed, which were frequently defined by clean lines and sharp angles. In the early 1950s, he also patented a technique called the “Tigette,” which allowed for quick and easy assembly or disassembly of modular furniture — a forerunner to IKEA’s flat-packed furniture.
While Sornay isn’t as well known as other European modernists like Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, he attracted modest attention at exhibitions of the day, such as the 1923 Salon d’Automne and the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, the design fair that brought the Art Deco style to the world. He was awarded the bronze medal at Paris’s Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in 1937.
In the late 1950s, Sornay ceded control of his furniture design company to his children, remaining as an advisor until production ceased in 1999. He died the following year.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage André Sornay case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and tables.
Mahogany bed by André Sornay, France circa 1960
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Mahogany bed designed by André Sornay around 1960, produced using the patented Tigette assembly system that characterizes the Lyon workshop's production during the mid twentieth cen...
Wood
Pair of André Sornay Armchairs in Sapele Mahogany and Bouclé, France, 1950s
By Andre Sornay
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare pair of armchairs was designed by André Sornay and produced by his workshop in Lyon in the early 1950s. High, angled backrest in sapele mahogany with upholstered cushions. ...
Fabric, Bouclé, Chenille, Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany
$12,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Andre Sornay bridge chairs stained Oregon pine, ebonised wood
By Andre Sornay
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Pair of bridge chairs stained Oregon pine on the back side , lacquer olive green color wood, brass nail-heads and fabric upholstery, each underside stamped 'BREVETE SORNAY/FRANCE ETR...
Wood
$4,000 / set
Beech chairs by André Sornay
By Andre Sornay
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Vintage dining chair by French designer André Sornay. It is manufactured with a design that is assembled by tightening bolts from one side. Manufacturer is his own workshop, Sornay M...
Beech
André Sornay, Armchair, Wood, Leather, France, 1940s
By Andre Sornay
Located in High Point, NC
A red leather and wood armchair designed and produced by André Sornay, France, 1940s. Heavy wear on arm rests with natural dry cracking. Moderate wear to fabric (residue buildup an...
Leather, Wood
Pine Andre Sornay armchair, France, 1950's
By Andre Sornay
Located in Austin, TX
Pine armchair by Andre Sornay, French designer known for his sublime simplicity. France, 1950's.
Pine
Mid-Century Modern Armchair by André Sornay, Wood, France, Circa 1960
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Simplicity and elegance for these armchairs by the Lyon cabinetmaker and designer André Sornay. Solid pine uprights assemble by threaded rods, a system patented by Sornay himself, c...
Wood
Rare Modernist Stool by Andre Sornay
By Andre Sornay
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cowhide upholstered stool by Andre Sornay. Made in France circa 1930s. Literature: Thierry Roche, André Sornay 1902-2000, Paris, 2002
Metal
Set of Six André Sornay Solid Beech Slatted Chairs, 1960 Lyon Mid-Century Modern
By Andre Sornay
Located in IT
This set of six solid beech wood slatted chairs, designed by André Sornay circa 1960, epitomizes the elegance of Mid-Century Modern style. Crafted in L...
Beech
$12,000
Vintage Art Deco Desk Chair
By Andre Sornay
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Vintage Art Deco Desk Chair By Andre Sornáy Lacquered Zebra Wood and Ebony with Teal Leather Upholstery France, Circa 1930 34”W x 22”D x 23”H
Leather, Ebony, Zebra Wood
$1,985 / set
Pair of Armchairs by André Sornay, France 1960s
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Pair of armchairs by designer André Sornay. The latter, originally from Lyon, is the inventor of various patented assembly systems including the so-called "tigette" system. The seat...
Wood, Fabric
Chairs by André Sornay, Set of 2, circa 1960
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Pair of chairs by the cabinetmaker and designer from Lyon André Sornay. Solid pine uprights assembled by threaded rods, a system patented by Sornay himself, with anthracite grey lac...
Wood
Set of French Chairs by André Sornay, 1950s
By Andre Sornay
Located in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, FR
Set of French Chairs by André Sornay, 1950s Additional information: Materials: Wood Color: Yellow Design Period: 1950 to 1959 Year: 1950 Country of Manufacture: France Identifying M...
Wood
$23,356 / set
Set of Six Chairs by André Sornay
By Andre Sornay
Located in PARIS, FR
A set of six chairs by the Lyonnais designer André Sornay, made with rosewood veneer.
Rosewood
Pair of Andre Sornay Armchairs, circa 1960, France
By Andre Sornay
Located in Girona, Spain
Pair of Andre Sornay armchairs. This armchair will warm up your interior with the color of its wood, a perfect piece for a chalet-type interior...
Pine
$3,500
H 32 in W 23.5 in D 27.5 in
Sornay Attr. Art Deco Rosewood Lounge Chairs, France 1930s-1940s, Mid-Century
By Andre Sornay
Located in New York, NY
Sornay attributed deco Animal print rosewood lounge chairs, France, 1930s-1940s Mid-Century. Incredible rosewood chairs with beautiful Patina throughout. Modernist square arms and t...
Cowhide, Rosewood
$750 / item
H 33.86 in W 16.93 in D 20.87 in
8 French 1960s Beech and Naugahyde "Pégase" Chairs by Baumann
By Pierre Guariche, Baumann France
Located in Long Island City, NY
8 French mid-century beech and naugahyde dining chairs attributed to Pierre Guariche, model Pégase, edited by Baumann. Price is per chair.
Naugahyde, Beech
$2,650
H 30.13 in W 21.75 in D 16.25 in
French Art Deco Cerused Oak Desk Chair Attributed to Andre Sornay
By Francisque Chaleyssin, Jules Leleu, Andre Sornay, Jacques Adnet, Charles Dudouyt
Located in Houston, TX
French Art Deco Cerused Oak Desk Chair Attributed To Andre Sornay. Handsome French Art Deco cerused or limed oak desk chair attributed to Andre Sornay. This stunning desk chair or of...
Leather, Oak
Pair of French Oak Armchairs, France, 1950s
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
This refined pair of French armchairs from the 1950s showcases the understated elegance of mid-century design. Crafted from solid oak, the chairs feature beautifully sculpted armrest...
Straw, Oak
French Reconstruction Armchair, 1940s
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
One of a kind French Reconstruction Armchair, 1940, post-war modernist design. Structure in solid oak. Condition report : the chair show si...
Cane, Mahogany
$4,437 / set
H 33.47 in W 22.84 in D 24.41 in
Mid-Century Modern French Riviera Cane Bamboo Armchairs, 1960s
Located in Paris, IDF
This pair of bamboo armchairs from the Mid-Century Modern French Riviera period is bursting with nostalgia. A light golden bamboo structure, cane seat, and the original printed cushi...
Bamboo, Cane
Polexim Armchair, patinated nature leather, 1940s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Polexim armchair in style of Kaare Klint. Frame of mahogany. Upholstered with patinated nature leather. With brass nails. Made in the 1940s.
Brass
$2,280
H 35.44 in W 18.31 in D 18.9 in
Scandinavian Modern, Stump Chair / “Kubstol” in Pine, Mid 20th Century, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
A fine example of a mid 20th-century Swedish Stump Chair, "Kubstol", crafted in pine with a sculptural silhouette and clean lines. The chair’s understated character is enhanced by th...
Pine
Oswald Haerdtl Beech Dining Chairs, 1950s
By Thonet, Oswald Haerdtl
Located in Almelo, NL
Oswald Haerdtl set of four chairs, the 1950s A rare set of four chairs was designed by the Austrian designer Oswald Haerdtl and produced by Ton (Thonet) in the former Czechoslova...
Ash, Beech, Bentwood
Italian Midcentury Beechwood Armchair, 1950s
Located in Paris, FR
A 20th century vintage Italian armchair designed with curved armrests and splayed and tapered front legs with stretchers. This design piece is fully restored with yellow velvet uphol...
Velvet, Beech
$17,000 / set
H 33 in W 18 in D 18 in
Jansen Set of Four Brass and Iron Armchairs in White Bouclé, France 1950's
By Maison Jansen
Located in New York, NY
Elegant set of Jansen wrought iron chairs with X-shaped backrests, legs ending in brass sabots, upholstered in white bouclé.
Brass, Wrought Iron
French Modern André Arbus Style Lounge Chair
By Maurice Dufrêne, André Arbus, Milo Baughman, Jules Leleu, Maison Dominique
Located in Houston, TX
French modern André Arbus style lounge chair. This shapely French midcentury lounge chair is French design at its best. Large and comfortable with ta...
Fabric, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Chair by André Sornay, Solid Mahogany, 1955
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
A chair designed by André Sornay, a renowned cabinetmaker from Lyon, showcasing the designer's ingenuity as a pioneer of kit furniture in the late 1950s. These elegant chair featur...
Wood
Pair of Armchairs by André Sornay
By Andre Sornay
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of André Sornay armchairs with brass nail details and leather upholstery.
Oak
Sold
H 35.44 in W 20.48 in D 18.9 in
Set of six French chairs by Andre' Sornay with white leather seats
By Andre Sornay
Located in Milano, IT
This elegant set of six French chairs attributed to André Sornay is a striking example of the designer's rigorous and architectural approach to furniture design during the 1940s, a p...
Brass
Sold
H 31.5 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern Chair by André Sornay, Solid Wood, France, 1960
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Simplicity and elegance for these chairs by the Lyon cabinetmaker and designer André Sornay. Solid pine uprights assemble by threaded rods, a system patented by Sornay himself, crea...
Wood
Pair of Armchairs by André Sornay, France 1960s
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Simplicity and elegance for these armchairs by the Lyon cabinetmaker and designer André Sornay. Solid pine uprights assemble by threaded rods, a system patented by Sornay himself, c...
Wood
Pair of Chairs by André Sornay, Lyon France
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Pair of chairs designed by André Sornay, a renowned cabinetmaker from Lyon, showcasing the designer's ingenuity as a pioneer of kit furniture in the late 1950s. These elegant chairs...
Wood
Chair by André Sornay, Lyon France
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
A chair designed by André Sornay, a renowned cabinetmaker from Lyon, showcasing the designer's ingenuity as a pioneer of kit furniture in the late 1950s. These elegant chair featur...
Wood
Chair by André Sornay, Lyon France
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
A chair designed by André Sornay, a renowned cabinetmaker from Lyon, showcasing the designer's ingenuity as a pioneer of kit furniture in the late 1950s. These elegant chair featur...
Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Lounge Chairs by André Sornay, France, 1950
By Andre Sornay
Located in Almelo, NL
Pair of Mid-Century Lounge Chairs by André Sornay, France, 1950 Introducing a visually striking pair of vintage lounge chairs designed by the esteemed French furniture designer Andr...
Upholstery, Beech
Chair by André Sornay, Lyon France
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
A chair designed by André Sornay, a renowned cabinetmaker from Lyon, showcasing the designer's ingenuity as a pioneer of kit furniture in the late 1950s. These elegant chair featur...
Wood
Pair of Chairs by André Sornay, Lyon France
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Pair of chairs designed by André Sornay, a renowned cabinetmaker from Lyon, showcasing the designer's ingenuity as a pioneer of kit furniture in the late 1950s. These elegant chair...
Wood
Pair of Chairs by André Sornay, Lyon France
By Andre Sornay
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Pair of chairs designed by André Sornay, a renowned cabinetmaker from Lyon, showcasing the designer's ingenuity as a pioneer of kit furniture in the late 1950s. These elegant chairs...
Wood