Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky’s imagining of a sleek, space-age future shaped the cars of the Art Deco era and the look of much of the world of consumer goods.
The JBS Collection’s 1934 Packard Eight 1100 Series Sedan, 1934 Packard Twelve 1107 Formal Sedan, and 1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Custom Convertible Sedan are all examples of de Sakhnoffsky’s inspired automotive design.
Ukrainian-born Automotive Designer Began Career in Fashion
Born into a noble family in Kyiv, Ukraine – then Russia – in 1901, Count de Sakhnoffsky’s family fled to France in 1920 following the Russian Revolution.
Initially, the young count attended engineering school in Switzerland, but when his money ran out, he moved on to fashion illustration in Paris.
De Sakhnoffsky’s fashion portfolio surprised American Thomas Hibbard, partner of the storied coachbuilder Hibbard & Darrin, when they met in a chance encounter in Belgium. But automotive design had become the latest focus of de Sakhnoffsky’s energies and his unorthodox professional experience aside, European coachbuilders quickly found a place for the talented young designer.
Duke Alexis de Sakhnoffsky: Designer of an Era
Fluent in four languages – English among them – de Sakhnoffsky took the time he’d spent shaping the look of luxury automobiles in Belgium and emigrated to the United States as the ’20s roared on.
De Sakhnoffsky is credited as the originator of the streamlined aesthetic that became synonymous with timeless cars and consumer goods, from travel trailers to toys.
The JBS Collection’s Cars by de Sakhnoffsky
The JBS Collection is home to three luxury automobiles representative of Alexis de Sakhnoffsky’s signature brand of design genius. While he worked for high-end car manufacturers from Rolls-Royce to Auburn for their Cord model, all three examples of de Sakhnoffsky design in The JBS Collection are 1934 Packards.
Take a look inside and out of each of these automotive treasures below:
1934 Packard Eight 1100 Series Sedan
1934 Packard Twelve 1107 Formal Sedan
1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Custom Convertible Sedan By Dietrich
