René Gabriel [1899–1950] combined his social ideals with a pursuit of beauty, giving rise to an elegance defined by minimalist forms.
Gabriel distinguished himself through the extreme simplicity and sturdiness of his designs, where a Cartesian aesthetic streamlined production. He captivated leading timber manufacturers who published his creations as early as the mid-1930s—an exceptional circumstance in France that led to his selection to design furniture for the victims of Second World War bombings.
Appointed president of the Société des Artistes Décorateurs (SAD) at the Liberation, he steered French decoration—then constrained by the mannerism of Art Deco—towards more economical productions, with sharp lines, efficient joinery, and a preference for the rusticity of local woods over the preciousness of imported species.
In harmony with the “structural classicism” of architect Auguste Perret, his work inherited a tradition capable of assimilating modernity, opening the way to a functional yet aesthetic design where the strength of line is softened by the warmth of wood.
René Gabriel
René Gabriel [1899–1950] combined his social ideals with a pursuit of beauty, giving rise to an elegance defined by minimalist forms.
Gabriel distinguished himself through the extreme simplicity and sturdiness of his designs, where a Cartesian aesthetic streamlined production. He captivated leading timber manufacturers who published his creations as early as the mid-1930s—an exceptional circumstance in France that led to his selection to design furniture for the victims of Second World War bombings.
Appointed president of the Société des Artistes Décorateurs (SAD) at the Liberation, he steered French decoration—then constrained by the mannerism of Art Deco—towards more economical productions, with sharp lines, efficient joinery, and a preference for the rusticity of local woods over the preciousness of imported species.
In harmony with the “structural classicism” of architect Auguste Perret, his work inherited a tradition capable of assimilating modernity, opening the way to a functional yet aesthetic design where the strength of line is softened by the warmth of wood.
