A one-of-one executive desk inspired by the glamour, craftsmanship and sculptural forms of French Art Deco.
There are pieces you shop for, and then there are pieces you have to make.
For this edition of B.Spoke, a client came to The Collective with a very specific reference: a French Arts Décoratifs-style pedestal desk whose unusual silhouette, rich burl and sculptural presence were exactly right. Rather than searching for something similar, we worked with our local workroom to reproduce the details that made the original so special, while selecting the materials and finish individually for this piece.
The Challenge
The inspiration existed. The exact piece did not.
The client wanted the proportions and details of the original desk faithfully preserved, including its distinctive curved pedestal bases and nine-drawer configuration. But finding a vintage desk with the same form, scale, material and condition would mean compromising somewhere along the way.
The answer was to recreate it.
Instead of adapting the room to what was available, B.Spoke allowed us to start with the piece we wanted and build from there.
The Design
The desk takes its cues from the luxurious furniture associated with French Art Deco, a movement that reached its defining moment at Paris's 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. French Art Deco paired modern, often geometric forms with an older tradition of exceptional cabinetmaking, rich veneers and highly considered craftsmanship. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
That combination is what makes this desk so compelling. The form is substantial but surprisingly graphic: two rounded pedestal ends anchor a broad rectangular top, while the sweeping curves soften what could otherwise feel like a very traditional executive desk. Seen from the side, those curved planes become almost architectural.
The burl is equally important. Art Deco's most celebrated furniture makers frequently allowed extraordinary woods and veneers to become the decoration themselves. Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, one of the era's defining designers, was particularly known for elegant forms executed in luxurious veneers and meticulous craftsmanship. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Here, olive ash burl gives every surface natural movement. Rather than treating the wood as a background material, the grain becomes part of the composition.
Making It B.Spoke
Material selection was especially important to getting this one right.
The desk was specified at 63"W × 29"D × 32"H in olive ash burl with a natural stain and high-gloss finish. Rather than simply specifying the species, the client was given the opportunity to review individual veneer sheets and select one with particularly beautiful grain and movement for the center of the desktop. A stain sample was also approved before the final finish was applied.
The nine drawers follow the original configuration, finished with small polished-copper knobs that add another warm, reflective note against the burl.
It’s a detail-driven approach that feels particularly appropriate for an Art Deco-inspired piece. The originals of the period were prized not simply for their silhouettes, but for their materials, surfaces and craftsmanship—the idea that a functional object could also be something exceptional. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Solution
A desk with the character of a found antique, without having to wait for the right antique to appear.
By starting with an existing reference and reproducing the elements worth preserving, we were able to create something very specific: the sculptural pedestal form, dramatic burl grain, generous executive scale and glossy finish of the inspiration piece, made individually for its new home.
That is the point of B.Spoke: when the piece you can picture is not the piece you can find, we make it.
B.Spoke Details
Piece: French Arts Décoratifs-Style Pedestal Executive Desk
Dimensions: 63"W × 29"D × 32"H
Material: Olive Ash Burl
Finish: Natural Stain, High Gloss
Details: Nine Drawers, Polished Copper Hardware
Made: Custom through The Collective