1925 A Legacy

To commemorate the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, the Centre des monuments nationaux and the Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national are collaborating to present the exhibition 1925: A Legacy at Villa Cavrois.

This landmark event in 1925 significantly influenced the history of architecture and decorative arts in France and globally, reflecting the creative surge of a post-war society undergoing transformation.

The exhibition served as a springboard for the Art Deco style that defined the decade, exploring new architectural, urban, and decorative approaches in close dialogue with nature.

In tribute to this visionary era, Villa Cavrois showcases select masterpieces of furniture and ceramics from the 1920s–1930s, highlighting the contrast with the architecture and furnishings of Robert Mallet-Stevens, who also explored the relationship between nature and architecture in his work.

Villa Cavrois thus highlights the legacy and contributions of the International Exhibition to the Art Deco movement and the early stages of modern architecture in the late 1920s, with Robert Mallet-Stevens himself having participated in the 1925 exhibition.

On display to the public and integrated into the interiors of Villa Cavrois are a series of vases from the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, created by leading figures of the movement such as Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann, Luc Lanel, Émile Decoeur, and Maurice Daurat, as well as tapestry-covered seating by Paul Follot and a carpet by Paul Hannotin, both produced at the Manufacture nationale de Beauvais.

Here is the English translation with the key words highlighted in bold:

The Exposition internationale des Arts décoratifs et industriels modernes also marks the moment of the encounter between Paul Cavrois and Robert Mallet-Stevens. The pavilion showcasing textile production from Roubaix and Tourcoing, which brought Paul Cavrois to Paris, stood next to a square where cubist trees by the Martel brothers caused a stir—alongside several works by Mallet-Stevens, including the Tourism Pavilion.

This meeting marked the beginnings of the Villa Cavrois, which would be built a few years later. With the project of constructing a residence large enough to house his entire family, Paul Cavrois was undoubtedly captivated by Mallet-Stevens’ aesthetic.