Armand-Albert Rateau in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs’ collections

In addition to Prince Louis de Polignac’s major donation of the contents of Jeanne Lanvin’s apartment in 1965, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs has other creations by Armand-Albert Rateau.

After the 1925 Exhibition, the museum acquired one of the chandeliers in the Pavillon de l’Élégance from Baguès Frères, the firm that produced Rateau’s bronze objects.

In 1937, following Le Décor de la vie de 1900 à 1925 exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, at which Rateau had shown eight pieces of furniture, the designer donated two to the museum. Formerly in his apartment at 17 quai de Conti in Paris, these models were created for his first clients, George and Florence Blumenthal: a tea table with two trays ( Jeanne Lanvin owned a similar piece), and an armchair created in 1919 for their swimming pool in New York.

  • Armchair

    ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938), decorator
    BAGUES FRERES, founder
    Paris, circa 1919
    cast bronze with antique green patina
    cushion in ocelot fur
    donation ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU, 1937

    This model was created in 1919 for the swimming pool of George and Florence Blumenthal in New York

    inv. 33765
  • Project for an armchair

    ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)
    PAUL PLUMET
    Paris, circa 1919
    black ink wash on tracing paper
    donation FRANCOIS RATEAU, 1995

    inv. 995.129.1.1
  • Tea table

    ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938), decorator
    BAGUES FRERES, founder
    Paris, circa 1924
    cast bronze with antique green patina, mirror and glass
    donation ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU, 1937

    The Blumenthal couple owned an identical model.

    inv. 33764

In 1947, the six-panel Course dans la forêt screen, donated by Rateau’s wife, complemented this exceptional ensemble. Initially comprising eight panels, this lacquer screen, created around 1925, stood at the rear of the dining room of the designer’s apartment on Quai de Conti, concealing the staircase and a window.

  • Details from the screen with six panels, Race in the forest

    ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)
    Paris, circa 1925 (date of the creation of the model), circa 1930 (date of production)
    Lacquer, warm brown intaglio and raised decoration , wrought iron frame
    donation THERESE RATEAU, 1947

    inv. 35842
  • Photograpgh of Albert-Armand Rateau’s dining room, 17 Quai de Conti in Paris, beginning of the 1930’s.
    The long table with its black and white marble top is identical to the one in the dining room of Jeanne Lanvin.

    Rateau Family Collection

This collection was further enhanced in 1995 when François Rateau, the artist’s son, donated 56 drawings to the museum. Produced for the most part in collaboration with his assistant, the sculptor Paul Plumet, they provide an insight into the artist’s creative process and development, from the interior design of the barge Nomade, bought from Paul Poiret in 1913, to the prestigious commissions he executed from 1920 until he died in 1938.

The barge Nomade
ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)
Paris, 1913
Pen, black ink, water colour on paper pasted on cardboard
Donation FRANCOIS RATEAU, 1995
Rateau bought this barge in 1913 ; It was designed by Louis Süe for the couturier Paul Poiret. This purchase enabled Rateau
to get to know the couturier’s circle of friends, notably Jeanne Lanvin who would be one of the guests on the barge at the outbreak of the First World War.
inv. 995.129.2.7
Project for the terrace furniture of the Hôtel Crillon in Paris
ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)
Paris, circa 1923
Pencil, water colour and gouache highlights on paper
donation FRANCOIS RATEAU, 1995
From 1921 to 1923 Rateau worked on the hotel which belonged to Guaranty Trust Co. The architect was R. Bouwens de Boijen, who was also the architect for Jeanne Lanvin’s town house.
inv. 995.129.2.8
  • Project for lacquered panels for the bathroom of Lady and Sir Pomery-Burton at the Château de La Croë

    ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)
    Paris, circa 1929
    Graphite, coloured pencil, gouache, silver highlights on tracing paper
    donation FRANCOIS RATEAU, 1995

    inv. 995.129.2.1 à 995.129.2.3
  • Project for lacquered panels for the bathroom of Lady and Sir Pomery-Burton at the Château de La Croë

    ARMAND-ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)
    Paris, circa 1929
    Graphite, coloured pencil, gouache, silver highlights on tracing paper
    donation FRANCOIS RATEAU, 1995

    inv. 995.129.2.4 et 995.129.2.5