EnglishIconic lines, pioneering movements, and timeless pieces… This section explores the legacies of design that continue to inspire today’s creators. A bridge between past and present, craftsmanship and vision.
1900 – “The fire ignites in the spirit” – Le Corbusier A creative fire indeed—one that swept across Europe, taking root in England as Modern Style, in France as Art Nouveau, in Germany as Jugendstil, and in Austria as Secessionsstil. While critics derided it as “noodle style,” “metro style,” or even “tapeworm style,” its legacy…
The Chippendale style emerged in England around 1750, at a time when the rococo refinement of French Louis XV still dominated Europe, while the Anglo-Saxon world was already beginning its transition toward neoclassicism. Introduction Chippendale style embodies the golden age of eighteenth-century English furniture. Between 1750 and 1780, Thomas Chippendale and his cabinetmaking workshop created…
Introduction Gothic style emerges in the mid twelfth century as an architectural and decorative revolution unlike anything Europe had seen before. Around 1140, Abbot Suger rebuilds the choir of the Basilica of Saint Denis near Paris. For the first time, stone seems to defy gravity. Walls grow thinner, vaults rise higher, and light floods the…
Do You Know the Directoire Style? Do you know the Directoire style? This transitional period sits historically between the French Revolution and the Consulate. It marks the revival of French decorative arts after the revolutionary upheavals and sets the stage for the rise of the Empire style. It should not be confused with the late…
Le Mouvement Arts & Crafts : Quand l’Artisanat Défie l’Industrie Le mouvement Arts & Crafts révolutionne l’art occidental en opposant l’authenticité artisanale à la production industrielle et la beauté humaine à la standardisation mécanique. Cette révolution esthétique et sociale reflète la résistance à l’industrialisation du XIXe siècle : de la machine déshumanisante au geste authentique,…
The Transition style is neither an official “period style” nor a movement with a manifesto.It belongs to no single reign. Instead, it names a moment in French taste, right at the hinge between the last rocaille inventions of Louis XV and the early neoclassical impulse that would define Louis XVI. Introduction In France, the Transition…
Do you know the Louis XIII style? The Louis XIII style (1610–1643) marks a pivotal moment when France moves beyond the decorative legacy of the Renaissance to lay the foundations of 17th-century classicism. More structural than ornamental, it favors rigor, geometry, and interior architecture—directly foreshadowing the Louis XIV style. Louis XIII: The Birth of a…
Louis-Philippe Style: When the French Bourgeoisie Defines Taste The Louis-Philippe style reshapes Western decorative culture by cementing the rise of the bourgeoisie and the flourishing of eclectic interiors. This aesthetic shift mirrors mid-19th-century France: from aristocracy to the middle class, from courtly display to family comfort made desirable—and attainable. Under the July Monarchy, a new…
Victorian Style: When England Dominated Global Decorative Arts Victorian style revolutionized Western art by establishing British hegemony and the flourishing of decorative industry. This aesthetic revolution reflects the expansion of the British Empire in the 19th century: from traditional craftsmanship to mass industry, from insular taste to multiple colonial influences. The Victorian era invented a…
Céline VanierDigital entrepreneur and craft artisan. My work bridges craftsmanship, design history and contemporary creation, shaping a personal vision of luxury interior design. Since 2012, I have been based in my workshop on the shores of Lake Annecy, creating bespoke interiors for architects, decorators and private clients. hartdesignselection.com
Introduction The Louis XIII style marks a pivotal transition in the history of French furniture and decoration. Between 1610 and 1643, under the reign of Louis XIII and the regency of Marie de Medici, a distinctive style emerged, preparing the future grandeur of the Louis XIV era. This style stands at the crossroads between the…
Between the constructive rigor of Louis XIII style and the decorative softening of Regency style, Louis XIV style (1643–1715) imposes a monumental classicism in service of power. Louis XIV style (1643–1715) marks the spectacular affirmation of a decorative art conceived as an instrument of power. Under the reign of the Sun King, decoration ceases to…
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