Vide poche or ashtray by Fred Brouard

Best known for his abstract sculptures, French creator Fred Brouard also used his artistic skills to craft jewelry and home furnishings ranging from sconces to dining tables. His signature modern flair is evident in the bold curves and assertive tapers that give shape to his table and lamp bases.

Brouard was born in the Normandy region of France in 1944. His father was a train engineer, working along routes between Cherbourg and Paris, who would often take his son to the City of Lights to visit museums.

Brouard studied at the School of Fine Arts in Rouen until he was 14. After leaving school, he spent a season sculpting, painting and reading everything he could about art. Pursuing a passion for sculpture, he went on to attend the National School of Fine Arts in Paris, where he served as a plaster worker under French sculptor Henri Georges Adam. 

Upon completing art school, Brouard worked for a time as an assistant to Argentine designer Alicia Penalba. He also crafted his own pieces and exhibited them at Montreal's International Exhibition of Jewelry and Contemporary Art in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, he showed his work at exhibitions in France, Switzerland and Canada, and in 1986 showcased his work at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris.

Brouard died in 1999, and his work continues to inspire and impress collectors and artists everywhere. The National Fund for Contemporary Art in France has his creations on view, and his art and furnishings grace collections and homes around the world.

On 1stDibs, find Fred Brouard tables, lighting and decorative objects.