JEAN PROUVÉ (1901-1984) Compass - Direction, model designed circa [1953]. Desk complete with its two side pedestals each opening with two drawers (one large and one small) in green lacquered metal, original stringboards. Compass legs in green-lacquered sheet steel with original stringers and cylindrical beams; each leg has a circular glide. Aluminum drawer handles. Circa 1950. Rectangular top with rounded corners, not original or re-cut and re-plated. Used condition, scratches, wear, missing and chipped green lacquer, oxidation, some dents on drawer fronts, missing lock and barrel on one drawer, non-original top. With top: Height: 73 cm - Width: 160 cm - Depth: 73 cm Bibliography : - Galerie Steph Simon sales brochures - After 1956 - Variants reproduced on these documents. - Peter Sulzer - Jean Prouvé - Œuvre complète, volume 3, 1944-1954 - Éditions Birkhäuser, Basel, 2005. Different versions of the Compas desk reproduced on pages 266 and 267. - Yolande Amic - Intérieurs - Le mobilier français 1945-1964 - Yolande Amic, éditions VIA - Éditions du Regard, Paris, 1983. Variants reproduced on pages 70 and 71. - Collectif - Jean Prouvé/Serge Mouille, deux maîtres du métal - Catalogue of the exhibition held in May 1985 at Galerie De Lorenzo in New-York and in the autumn at Galerie Alan et Christine Counord in Paris, bilingual edition by the two galleries, Paris, 1985. An identical Compas base is reproduced on page 62. - Patrick Favardin - Le Style 50; un moment de l'art français - Éditions Sous le Vent-Vilo, Paris, 1987. Identical Compas base reproduced on page 26. - Collectif - Jean Prouvé - Éditions Benedikt Taschen, Cologne, 1991. Variant reproduced on page 106.