Design in LA with Steven Autry: An Interview With Jean de Mary

Jean de Merry opened their first showroom in Los Angeles in 2001, but the journey to where they find themselves today can be traced back hundreds of years to the limestone plateaux of the Causse Noir in South Central France. By the 19th Century, the leather tanning process of their ancestors had pioneered and cultivated what came to define this rural location as one of the premiere leather manufacturing regions in Europe.

Utilizing long held family secrets; re-creating and refining the process of aging raw hide in order to create hand-crafted goods that look and feel like treasured family pieces, the result was the starting point for the Jean de Merry brand, which resulted in an exclusive, signature line of club chairs. These artisanal pieces are hand-dyed and hand-aged as they were in a wonderful bygone era, when quality and integrity were evidence of a skilled and talented craftsperson.

In what seemed like a natural evolution of their aged leather pieces, they began designing and manufacturing complementary furniture creations with a French deco influence. These custom antiqued mirrored credenzas, vanities and consoles and unique and individual lighting fixtures demonstrate a sense of restrained sophistication that highlights the beauty and importance of balance, proportion and scale.

Today Jean de Merry's visionary line offers flawless execution of subtle palettes, discreet, sophisticated finishes and sleek lines that create a harmonious, artful juxtaposition to the raw beauty of their organically crafted leather pieces. With a strong appreciation and respect for pedigree and community alike, they have created furniture that embodies the classic elements of design while still being original and personal. Never modish but always stylish and relevant, these pieces are the heirlooms of the future. The instinctive and emotional relationship they have with their collection is what defines Jean de Merry as a creative visionary and as an extraordinary brand.