Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann

Christie’s New York, December 9, 1989, lot 492
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Florence Camard, Ruhlmann: Master of Art Deco, Paris, 1983, pp. 145 and 203 (for the model included in Ruhlmann's showroom, 1930)
Florence Camard, Jacques Émile Ruhlmann, Paris, 2009, CD-rom catalogue raisonné (for the design drawing of the model)

This monumental conference table exemplifies Ruhlmann's unparalleled skill for composing volumes and creating harmony out of contrast.  Unified by luxurious materials and culminating in a singular dynamic, balanced composition, this table is superbly crafted and thoughtfully conceived both visually and functionally.

The graceful, modern curve of the oval tabletop and its highly architectural, classically-influenced base are quintessentially Ruhlmann.  The rich wood selection and application of leather in the design is indicative of the artist's commitment to working with lavish materials, but equally important to Ruhlmann was that the table be practical.  The ample tabletop is unobstructed by legs around its circumference, making this conference table both functional and comfortable to use.  Furthermore, the discrete and ingenious incorporation of telephone buttons on the edge of the table top exemplifies Ruhlmann’s attitude towards the integration of technology and furniture design.  For Ruhlmann, sumptuous, artistic design and modern innovations were not incompatible.  “We have to translate the beauty of pure, rational form into fine materials," he believed, "There is no denying that there is something attractive about contemporary experiments, or that studying them has its charm.  It is obvious to any informed observer that there can be no going back.”

This table model was a featured work in Ruhlmann's early 1930s showroom—an indication that he felt this piece was exemplary of his most cherished design principles.  Indeed, its refined and elegant form appealed even to Andy Warhol, who owned the same model (sold at Sotheby’s London in June 2011) and used it “as a conference table and for lunches.”  Its impressive scale and refined contours make this piece an icon of Ruhlmann's celebrated oeuvre.