The Birth of Art Deco : Ruhlmann and the Hôtel du Collectionneur, 1925

The starting point for the aesthetic now known as Art Deco, Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann's (1879-1933) pavilion at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts presented the most famous creations of the show, marking the beginning of a lasting craze for this international design language. Inspired by 18th-century pleasure pavilions, Ruhlmann's pavilion, L'Hôtel du Collectionneur, was one of the most admired at the show. Designed as a modern-day Trianon, it was filled with his own sumptuous furniture and a carefully selected collection of art objects by his contemporaries, including Edgar Brandt, Jean Dunand and Jean Puiforcat.

This book celebrates the centenary of the 1925 Paris Exhibition, which shaped 20th-century design and gave its name to Art Deco. At the heart of this publication is a facsimile reproduction of the original catalogue documenting the pavilion. The book offers a detailed analysis of the pavilion's architecture and interiors, revealing how Ruhlmann's vision set the standards for luxury and taste in the interwar period.