Exhibition “Chic! Decorative arts and furniture from 1930 to 1960″

1 hour guided tour in English

Brought together for the first time as part of an exhibition, nearly 200 works from the collections of the Mobilier national revive the essence of French “Chic”.

Through the scenography designed by Vincent Darré, the exhibition allows visitors to follow the development of the decorative arts over the period from 1930 to 1960 with the reconstruction of large furniture sets such as the development of the Kinsky hotel or the sovereigns’ apartment at the Château de Rambouillet.

From 1930 to the end of the 1950s, most of the decorators who would make the history of these three decades of the 20th century were called upon to collaborate with the Mobilier national: André Arbus, Jules Leleu, Jean Pascaud, Étienne-Henri Martin, Marc du Plantier, Gilbert Poillerat or Raphaël Raffel. The figure of the decorator then plays a capital role. A true designer, he designs decoration as a harmonious whole and orchestrates artistic crafts in the service of a global project. The art of refinement is then based as much on the preciousness of the materials (parchment, gilded bronze, crystal, lacquer, etc.) as on the search for the line, up to the purity of the design.

Of remarkable quality and diversity, the collection of the Mobilier national is the first in France for this period. Witness to Art Deco and research in the field of decorative arts during the 1940s and 1950s, this set includes both ceremonial furniture, heirs to a long tradition of luxury, and functionalist pieces that mark the transition towards contemporary design.

Supporting crafts and creation since the 17th century, the Mobilier national’s mission is to ensure the conservation and restoration of its unique collections in the world, to perpetuate and transmit exceptional know-how. A major heritage site, the institution is also a major player in contemporary creation and the promotion of French-style decorative arts. The Mobilier national creates and restores tens of thousands of pieces of furniture and objects intended for furnishing and decorating public buildings in France and abroad.