Overview
An elegant leather ashtray by Jacques Adnet, France, 1950s. Hand-stitched saddle leather frames a metal ashtray well, in the refined equestrian-modernist style for which Adnet — and his association with Hermès — is celebrated.
 
Description
This ashtray embodies Jacques Adnet's signature marriage of modernist rigour and luxury craftsmanship.
It is built around a circular form wrapped in hand-stitched leather, worked with the contrast saddle-stitching that is the designer's hallmark, while a polished metal well sits at the centre to hold ash and rest cigarettes. The warm tone of the leather, its visible stitching and its rich patina give the piece a tactile, sartorial quality, softening the cool geometry of the metal.
Compact and beautifully made, it reads as much as a desk jewel as a functional object.
 
Design & Function
Conceived as an ashtray, it works equally well as a vide-poche or catch-all for keys, clips and small objects on a desk, console or side table. The leather surround protects the surface it sits on and gives the piece a quiet, luxurious presence.
Beyond its function, it is a collectible design object that brings warmth and refinement to any interior.
 
Materials & Aesthetic
The piece showcases Adnet's celebrated pairing of hand-stitched leather and metal — a combination that defined his most iconic production and echoes the equestrian, Hermès-adjacent aesthetic of mid-century French design. The saddle-stitching, the quality of the leather and the precision of the metalwork all speak to a refined, artisanal sensibility. The leather retains a beautiful patina, with natural variations and minor signs of age consistent with the material and the period.
 
Technical Details
Product: Jacques Adnet Hand-Stitched Leather Ashtray, France, 1950s
Designer: Jacques Adnet
Manufacturer: France (Compagnie des Arts Français)
Period: 1950s
Materials: Hand-stitched leather; metal ashtray well
Dimensions: Diameter 11cm | Height 5cm
Condition: Please note that this item is in good vintage condition. The stitched leather retains a warm patina, with natural variations, light wear and minor signs of age consistent with the material; the metal shows a light patina consistent with age and use. We kindly invite you to take these characteristics into consideration before purchasing.
Functionality: Ashtray / vide-poche, with a metal well set into the stitched-leather body
 
Collectibility
Jacques Adnet's hand-stitched leather objects are highly sought after by collectors of French mid-century design, prized for their sartorial craftsmanship and their association with the luxury, equestrian aesthetic of Hermès. Compact and refined, this ashtray is an ideal collector's piece and an elegant accent for a sophisticated desk, bar or living space.
 
Designer & Manufacturer
Jacques Adnet (1900–1984) was a leading figure of French modernism and, from 1928 to 1959, director of the Compagnie des Arts Français. He is best known for his hand-stitched leather furniture and objects — often produced in a spirit close to Hermès — in which Bauhaus-influenced, functional forms are wrapped in luxurious materials and finished with his characteristic saddle-stitching. His leather-and-metal pieces are among the most collectible French designs of the mid-20th century, celebrated for uniting rigour, warmth and impeccable craftsmanship.