Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann (1879-1933), pioneer of the Art Deco movement, is one of the most influential and refined of the great French architect-decorators of the 20th century. A skilled draftsman, a resourceful technician, a magician of color, and a prolific and inventive cabinetmaker, his essential strength was his capacity to pool these talents harmoniously.
Born in 1879, Ruhlmann was surrounded by color, as his family owned a paint company. In 1913 he opened his own cabinetmaking and decorating agency, quickly gaining a reputation synonymous with luxury and elegance. Ruhlmann designed everything for the ideal home, including furniture, lights, wallpaper, and textiles, in a style that combined the aesthetics of Art Nouveau with 18th-century craftsmanship.
With 250 illustrations, including facsimile reproductions of Ruhlmann's stunning designs, and an authoritative text drawing on diaries, letters to clients, and the reflections of those who worked under Ruhlmann, this book is an elegant testimony to a man whose name is synonymous with impeccable style.