Art & Architecture
article | Reading time3 min
Inspired by the artistic movements of the 1930s, discover the exceptional furniture at the villa Cavrois!
Under the microscope
The villa Cavrois contains almost 300 cultural assets, including an exceptional collection of furniture designed for the site by Robert Mallet-Stevens who, like a master builder, set out to conceive the villa as a "total work of art". He designed not only the architecture and décor, but also the furniture and lighting. Since 2009, the Centre des monuments nationaux has been actively acquiring the villa's original furniture, which was dispersed in 1987, thus enabling the assets to be returned to the spaces for which they were designed.
Find out more about the collections of the Centre des monuments nationaux.
© Didier Plowy / Centre des monuments nationaux
Three essential works
Made from sycamore veneer and polished aluminium, this dressing table was designed to furnish Lucie Cavrois's boudoir, a room adjoining the master bedroom. This functional piece of furniture is characterised by the use of simple geometric shapes that blend the traditional look of wood with polished aluminium, a resolutely modern material.
© Patrick Cadet / Centre des monuments nationaux
This sculpture by the brothers Jan and Joël Martel, in reconstituted stone, represents a stoat with a refined design and stylised forms. In 1932, it was displayed on the mantelpiece in the living room of the Villa Cavrois. This work evokes the importance of the artistic collaboration between the sculptors and the architect Robert Mallet-Stevens. The Martel brothers made an active contribution to the decoration of the villa, integrating several sculptures, including a seated cat in Paul Cavrois's smoking room and a pigeon in the hall.
© Philippe Berthé / Centre des monuments nationaux - © Jan Martel - ADAGP, © Joël Martel – ADAGP
This walnut table was designed by Robert-Mallet Stevens between 1929 and 1932 for the hall-salon of the Villa Cavrois. With its geometric lines and monumental appearance, it structures the central room of the villa and contributes to the conviviality and comfort of this living space.
© Christie’s
Other collections to explore
The Centre des Monuments Nationaux, of which the Villa Cavrois is a part, holds a number of collections! Want to find out more?