Fantaisie Merveilleuse: Classicism in French Art Deco

The 1925 Art Deco exhibition in Paris marked a turning point for this form of expression fusing classicism and modern elements, leading to the development of a magnificent form of decorative architecture represented by names like Henri Rapin and Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. The movement also made its way to Japan, as is evident from the 1933 imperial residence that's now the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, the site of this exhibition. Supervised by Henri Rapin, the interior was designed to express both tranquillity and elegance, and was recently restored to its original glory. The exhibition features over 80 pieces ranging from furniture and porcelain to silverware and dresses while also shining a light on the details of the museum building, which was once the home of Prince Asaka Yasuhiko, the uncle of Emperor Hirohito.