René Herbst's enduring furniture designs provide fundamental lessons for today's interior designers. A staunch modernist, Herbst was a founding member and later president of the Union des artistes modernes (UAM) in France, which sought to make domestic comfort accessible to all, regardless of class. The diversity of his work is testament to his prolific and creative output, and his design is marked by its simplicity and functionality.
The French architect turned designer was nicknamed the "man of steel" because he pioneered the use of the material for furniture years before mass production on a large scale was possible. In 1929 he created several versions of his celebrated Sandow Chair, which ignited his research into serial production and inaugurated the era of mass production.
This book presents a selection of the best works from the Herbst Collection held by the library of the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris, and demonstrates how Herbst was the catalyst of a new style of living that spurred the birth of modernity.
Guillemette Delaporte, art historian, is curator of temporary collections at the library of the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris. Since 1972, she has organized numerous exhibitions on the art and design of the 20th century.
Rene Herbst pioneered a modern international style that utilized industrial materials and mass-produced furnishings of chrome and steel in the overall design of store displays, commercial exhibitions, furniture, interior decoration, and even steamliner interiors. Delaporte, head of contemporary collections at the Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs (BAD) in Paris, masterfully portrays the French designer as an avant-garde revolutionary and design pioneer, whose career spanned 1908 to 1966. This volume highlights Herbst's output and influence through photographs, notebooks, and books written by the designer, as well as other relevant works from his personal archives that were donated to BAD in 1982. True to Herbst's style, its design is streamlined and functional. A chronology of Herbst's life and a brief bibliography of works from his archives conclude the book. With 130 illustrations, this would be a welcome addition to collections on design and decorative arts.-Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Libs., Johnson City. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
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