Chair from the Grand Salon of the S.S. Normandie
Design Date 1934
Designer Jean-Maurice Rothschild (1902–1998, French) with original upholstery designed by Émile Gaudissard (1872–1956, French) and executed by Aubusson
Manufacturer Baptistin Spade (1891–1969), Paris, France
Media giltwood chair with wool tapestry upholstery
Dimensions 32 x 28 x 34 inches
In 1935, the S.S. Normandie ocean liner’s maiden voyage won it the Atlantic speed record for the next three years. The ship was celebrated as an example of French technological achievement and was treated as a floating version of the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts), with French designers commissioned to decorate the ship’s interiors in the Art Deco style. This chair was designed for the Grand Salon, which was decorated with murals by Jean Dupas and furnished with designs by Jean-Maurice Rothschild. The chair celebrates the classic French aesthetic; with its wide seats, carved giltwood frames and needlepoint wool tapestry, it is fit for a king.
ON VIEW in Art Deco Gallery 6
Markings unmarked
Credit Line Collection Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
Accession Number 2015.0692
