Desk by Jean Prouvé for Lycée Nancy, 1950s

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Authentic Jean Prouvé monitor's / observer's-desk made of a green tubular steel frame (the typical metallic green that Prouvé often uses) that supports a massive oak top. On the right side of the desk there's a rounded oak shelf mounted to the inside of the desk. Jean Prouvé designed this desk in the 1950's for the Lycée Jean Prouvé in Nancy, the northern-French Lorraine region's capital. The desk is a completely authentic condition, without any structural damages at all. All the original screws and mounts are there, nothing has been replaced or restored. The thick solid oak top has marks of use, if desired it can easily be sanded and lacquered to make it look as new again; but that would not add to the beautiful authentic look and feel of it.

Designer	Jean Prouvé
Manufacturer	Lycée Nancy
Design Period	1950 to 1959
Year	1955
Production Period	1950 to 1959
Country of Manufacture	France
Identifying Marks	This piece has been attributed based on archival documentation, such as vintage catalogs, designer records, or other literature sources
Style	Mid-Century
Detailed Condition	Good — This vintage item remains fully functional, but it shows sign of age through scuffs, dings, faded finishes, minimal upholstery defects, or visible repairs.
Restoration and Damage Details	Light wear consistent with age and use
Product Code	UQI-553374
Materials	Steel, Lacquer, Oak
Color	Brown, grey
Width	130 cm 51.2 inch
Depth	65 cm 25.6 inch
Height	79 cm 31.1 inch
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Netherlands
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.
Returns	Returns accepted within 14 days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

About the Designer

Jean Prouvé

Born in Paris in 1901, Jean Prouvé came from an artistic home. His father, Victor Prouvé, a painter and sculptor, was a founding member of the Art Nouveau School of Nancy. Prouvé himself was trained as a metal artisan in Paris before attending engineering school in Nancy.

After opening his workshop in 1924, Prouvé designed and produced modern metal and wood furniture, and collaborated with major designers of the day, including Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand. Inspired by the aesthetics of aircraft design, he embraced bold, reduced forms, and championed steel and aluminum’s social and economic applications. He believed in the power of design to make the world a better place, and is credited with major developments in the prefabricated design arena, including refugee housing, his own home (a 1954 prototype), and the famed flat-packed Maison Tropicale.

In 1947, Prouvé started a factory at Maxéville specializing in furniture and prefabricated constructions; here he established a range of construction possibilities using folded or stamped sheet metal. From 1957-68, he served as head of the construction office of the Compagnie Industrielle de Matériel de Transport in Paris, before shifting gears to focus on his own architectural consulting firm in Paris between 1968 and 1984. In the last four years of his life, Prouvé focused his attention again on furniture design. He died in Nancy in 1984.