Vase N°9
Christian Duc, 1995Ø 28 × H 52 cm · approx. 4 kg · can be mounted as a lamp
Paris · since 1995
Furniture and decorative art objects in eggshell lacquer.
Handmade by artisans. Designs by Christian Duc, reissued by Alliciance.
Les Comptoirs d'Annam
Eggshell lacquer captivated the designers of the Art Deco era. Founded in 1995, Les Comptoirs d'Annam apply it to contemporary furniture and objects.
Our storyFrom the collection
Every piece is unique: the hand leaves small differences from one example to the next.
Vase N°1 Volutes
Christian Duc, 1996Ø base 15.5 × H 26 cm · approx. 4.3 kg
Édith Vase Lamp
Christian Duc, 1996Vase N°II · Ø 31 × H 26 cm · approx. 3.5 kg · mounted as a lamp · in the manner of Jean Dunand
Stool N°17
Christian Duc, 1995Ø 34 × H 41 cm · approx. 9 kg · also a plant stand
Mékong Stool
Christian Duc, 200045 × 44 × 35 cm · approx. 9 kg · two finishes joined with dovetails
BV45 Coffee Table
Christian Duc, 1995100 × 100 × 45 cm · 63 mm top
Console H90
Christian Duc, 1995120 × 35 × 90 cm
Console H68
Christian Duc, 2000150 × 40 × 68 cm · 6 cm top · black lacquered underside
Lidded jar
Table H73
Christian Duc, 1997100 × 100 × 73 cm · 63 mm top
BD Nesting Tables, set of 3
Christian Duc, 1997BD1 60 × 60 × 60.5 cm · BD2 50 × 50 × 55 cm · BD3 40 × 40 × 40 cm · tables also sold individually
Craftsmanship
Rankaku: eggshell laid fragment by fragment.
Drawing on experience gained since 1995, we make our collections using authentic techniques: traditional natural plant lacquer, and rankaku, the art of inlaying eggshell into that lacquer. Simple, noble materials whose fitting must reach perfection.
It all begins with the shell itself. Washed, and fired to obtain certain colors, it is crushed and then sieved into fragments of chosen sizes. The artisan then applies a first coat of fresh lacquer and lays the fragments on it one by one, edge to edge, like a mosaic.
Once the surface has been sanded perfectly smooth, the fragments are sealed in a lighter lacquer. Then begins a long work of patience: about four coats of lacquer and pigment follow one another, each wet-sanded before the next. Little by little, the color of the shells rises to the surface and reveals its pattern. Finally the piece receives a last, very fluid coat of lacquer, sanded and then polished. No varnish covers it: the surface keeps its natural depth and can be repaired by simple sanding. Like any noble material, it only asks for a little care.
Every object is shaped by hand by artisans who are heirs to centuries-old traditions. Even when true to its reference model, each piece carries the tiny variations that only the human hand can create. Whoever acquires one owns a unique, numbered creation.
Colors and finishes
Fourteen colors and patterns
Our pieces are made in natural plant lacquer, with no varnish applied. Each artisan's hand makes every one of our objects unique.
Each model is offered in several of them.
Our designs, colors and patterns are registered with INPI, the French intellectual property office.
- Spot rouge
- Spot noir
- Beige fini
- Beige pépite
- Gris fini
- Gris pépite
- Café fini
- Café pépite
- Snake brun
- Snake noir
- Snake galuchat
- Black plant lacquer
- Brown plant lacquer
- Oxblood plant lacquer
Note: because screens vary, we cannot guarantee that the colors shown are truly representative. Scales are approximate.
References
Our pieces in situ, with those who chose them
- Mobilier national
- Élysée Palace
- Yves Saint Laurent
- Recto
- Galerie Romain Morandi
- Studio Athena Calderone
In the collections of the Mobilier national
Pieces by Les Comptoirs d'Annam are part of the collections of the Mobilier national, the French state furniture collection. One of our consoles stands in the Salon d'argent of the Élysée Palace, and one of our tables in its gardens.
Collaborations
We have worked with leading houses and retailers.
Houses and department stores
- Mobilier national
- Fauchon
- Roche Bobois International
- Christofle
- Le Bon Marché
- Barney’s
- Harrod’s
- The Conran Shop
- Bergdorf Goodman
- Recto
- MAD Paris museum shop, rue de Rivoli
Architects and designers
- Philippe Starck
- Terence Conran
- Studio Athena Calderone · EyeSwoon
Galleries
- Galerie Romain Morandi
Our story
Les Comptoirs d'Annam, since 1995
1994: Jérôme Mauvernay, a specialist in cultural engineering, was asked to produce an event on the theme of Indochina. He traveled there with the designer Christian Duc (1947–2013).
The influence that Indochina and France exerted on each other at the end of the colonial period contributed to the birth of the ART DECO movement. The two companions were delighted to rediscover a lacquer technique, known in Japanese as Rankaku, used by the designers of the ART DECO era and since forgotten.
The textures and the depth of the colors won over Jérôme Mauvernay and Christian Duc, who decided to create new lines of objects. For Christian Duc, it answered his search for traditional crafts and for noble materials, precious or humble, with which to create contemporary objects and furniture in the spirit of the great masters of ART DECO.
1995 : Les Comptoirs d'Annam is born, a brand created by Jérôme Mauvernay in collaboration with Christian Duc around a simple idea: to create and distribute, in Europe and around the world, contemporary handmade objects in the same spirit as the designers of ART DECO.
Christian Duc designed the collections until 2013. After a dormant period, the brand is now active again.
Today, Les Comptoirs d'Annam carry this heritage forward in three directions:
- The brand reissues the historic collections designed by Christian Duc, whose models it holds, as well as designs never produced until now.
- It also pays tribute to the major figures of the interwar years, from Jean Dunand to Jean-Michel Frank, from Claudius Linossier to Paul Dupré-Lafon, to name but a few, by producing limited editions of some of their public-domain designs, rendered in other materials.
- It invites emerging talents drawn to the simplicity and beauty of its materials to collaborate.
Les Comptoirs d'Annam are the only experts able to authenticate the brand's pieces, whether original editions or reissues.
Trade
Interior architects and designers
Interior architects, designers, galleries and design stores: we support your projects, from choosing finishes to bespoke pieces.
Trade terms and spec sheets on request. Production lead time: 22 weeks.
Private clients are also welcome to write to us about a piece or for advice.
Contact
A question about a piece, a brochure or a quote: write to us, we reply within 48 hours.
- ShowroomParis 10th arrondissement, by appointment
- Instagram@lescomptoirsdannam
- PublisherAlliciance