Christophe Pourny is not your average New Yorker. He may have an iPod attached to his ears and an EZ pass attached to his windshield, but this is no run of the mill hipster. Listen and you’ll only hear classical music whispering from his headphones, and that EZ pass is attached to a very stylish, but prudent, Volvo station wagon. His childhood in the south of France fed his appetite for a classic yet offbeat ascetic.
While the mere mention of the region brings storybook images to any American ear, the small town of St. Raphael left him longing for the city of light - or any big city for that matter. For sure this was no country bumpkin, after all, his parents ran one of the most well known antique stores on the French Riviera. The rich and famous from all over the world passed through their shop. Worldly people with an eye for the finest treasures from the past counted on the Pourny’s to have just what they weren’t looking for, but had to have!
However, while the rich and famous sought out St. Raphael to fill their weekend treasure hunting, they were sure to leave as soon as they found their gold. When they did leave, there was no one. A half empty shop, his two sisters, and an assigned relative looking after the trio. That is all you would find during the week or during the off seasons. You see these treasures did not find their own way to the Pourny estate. His parents were in fact treasure hunters themselves. So with his parents globe trotting and the chic and fabulous wintering in Paris or Palm Beach, Christophe was left with an active imagination and a promise to himself: One day he would live in Paris.
College years found him studying in Paris and apprenticing for his Uncle who just happened to have one of the most famous antique shops in St. Germaine dus pres in Paris. Pierre Madel was a legend and his shop was legendary on Rue Jacob on the left bank. His following stretched from Santa Barbara to St. Tropez. His eye for antiquities was impeccable and his piercing blue eyes were unforgettable. In a former life he had been an actor. Paul Newman looks got him noticed on stage, but mostly by his wife of over 50 years – Arlette Merry. (Herself a well-known stage actress in Paris)
It was in this wonderfully warm environment that Christophe learned his craft. Under Pierre’s watchful eye he was able to learn from a master and study from masterpieces that passed through the shop. It was very much this environment that fostered his old worldly charm and passion for all things from times past. It was there that Christophe made another promise to himself: One day, New York.
Fifteen years ago ,Christophe Pourny kept that promise and moved to New York to start his own business. How could it not be in the world of antiquities? Over the years Christophe has built a strong and loyal following with the most celebrated interior designers in the business. He is the go-to guy for everything from guilds to finishes. He is equally qualified and specialized in restoration or creation. His work has graced the pages of most major publications and designer retrospectives.
His work with the City of New York in City Hall and Gracie Mansion are projects that he is most proud of. After many years as one of New York’s premiere wood finishers, the studio of Christophe Pourny launches its collection of custom wood frames. The first model unveiled is the Rue Jacob. The purity of design and masculinity of its proportions are reminiscent of its namesake.
"After 15 years I sometimes feel like a jaded New Yorker, but when I saw the reaction from the Elle Decor readers - I was shocked."
He shouldn't be; Pourny's work is second to none and the Rue Jacob is a perfect example of the quality he is known for. The Franklin Report gives the studio a very hard to come by-"Highest imaginable work quality."
For more information about Christophe Pourny or the Rue Jacob collection, contact
the Studio at 718-855-8865.
