Art Deco is one of my favourite design periods, especially in interiors. Now returning during Salone del Mobile, though seen through a different lens, a century later. At Louis Vuitton, the setting is once again Palazzo Serbelloni, a neoclassical palace that is still inhabited and layered with history. Here, Objets Nomades focuses on a tribute to Pierre-Émile Legrain.
Objets Nomades tribute to Pierre-Émile Legrain, courtesy of Louis Vuitton
On arrival, a long queue stretches across the courtyard. A large, colourful installation fills the space, where two student artists paint in the courtyard throughout the day. Developed with the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, the monumental, rug-like piece translates Legrain’s bookbinding motifs into a site-specific work produced in situ by students. Visitors move through it almost like a set, some preparing their own social content.
Inside, the scale shifts. The entrance holds a stack of classic trunks, a direct reference to the maison’s origins. The round staircase is filled with suspended forms in a striking colour palette. The focus turns to Legrain. A key figure within Art Deco, known for his work across bookbinding, furniture and interiors. In the 1920s, he collaborates closely with the house, working alongside Gaston-Louis Vuitton on its first furniture pieces. A century later, that dialogue returns. An oval mirrored table reappears in a new version. Around it, the collection moves between historical references and contemporary interpretations.
Objects Nomades in Palazzo Serbelloni during Salone del Mobile
Large table settings suggest moments of gathering. Dining becomes part of the display. Materials and craftsmanship remain central. Leather, wood, porcelain, lacquer. Surfaces shift between polished and matte. A contemporary Louis Vuitton turntable plays music that echoes the spirit of the 1920s.
The palace and the Objets Nomades collection work well together. The reference to the 1920s is clear. Modern nostalgia.
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Images by the author, with additional images courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
