ANNE BONY

The 1940s marked a period of transition in interior design: the quarrel between ancient and modern was outdated, the combination of function and art was essential, and interior designers were more focused on new creations rather than on post-war reconstruction. Following the cubist and art-deco eras, and the modernity of the thirties, the 1940s offered an innovative return to designs influenced by the Neo-classical and the Louis XVI styles - a return to the rustic and to rocaille. The style of this period exhibits all the contradictions that arise from a society that was in a general state of shock, unsure of what the future would hold. Exemplary cabinet making marks the period, featuring famous names like T.H. Robsjorn-Gibbing and George Nelson from the United States. In France, Adnet, Arbus, Dominique, Kohlmann, Jallot, and Leleu produced sumptuous ensembles, with beautiful detailing. 1940s Furniture and Interiors features the work of numerous designers in 300 archival images and recent color photographs. Separate sections on traditionalists and modernists are completed by a section of unique creations. These singular works do not conform to accepted trends or movements: they display the influences of surrealism, futurism, and abstract art, offering a fascinating insight into the diverse creations of the decade. 1940s Furniture and Interiors sheds new light on this transitional period in design, as it was demonstrated both in Europe and in the United States.