Dressing Table, circa 1920

"She was CHIC. She knew about the art of living, and the living arts and she lived, lived, lived." Tony Duquette on Frances Elkins

Famed California interior decorator, Frances Adler Elkins traveled abroad as a young woman, often visiting her brother, renowned architect David Adler in Paris while he studied at L'École des Beaux Arts. During these early escapades abroad, Elkins met famous designers of the day such as Jean-Michel Frank and Alberto Giacometti. These friendships led to collaborations in which Elkins offered her insight on the respective designer's work. Upon her return to the United States, Elkins became the exclusive importer of Frank's furniture for a time, ushering in the popularity of his work in America. Her own popularity quickly grew as she became known for her eclectic, avant-garde style and ability to seamlessly combine traditional Queen Anne and Chippendale furniture with modern low tables by Frank. Elkins often collaborated with her brother and the pair proved to be a balanced duo. Elkin's forward style balanced beautifully with Adler's traditional architectural designs, rooted in historicism. Despite Elkin's experimental style, her clients often left her interiors untouched for years, proving the enduring legacy and appreciation for her work.

In the early 1930s, Elkins approached one of her most important commissions, the Kersey Coates Reed House in Lake Forest, Illinois for Helen Shedd Reed and Kersey Coates Reed. The famous American collector Henry Francis du Pont, known for his discerning decorating taste, remarked in 1933, "Delightfully done and by far the best house of its kind that I have ever seen," after a visit to the Reed house. The Reed house is additionally special as Elkins incorporated pieces of her own designs, in addition to purchasing the latest fashions of the day. Throughout her career, she never wavered from her collaborative nature and maintained close relationships with her tradespeople. The present lot is a an exquisite example of Elkins' influence in design, a chic tortoiseshell bureau, rooted in a historic style.