Henri Samuel gets some Appreciation

It isn't that French interior designer Henri Samuel (1904-1996) never received appreciation; for a select few of the very rich and/or aristocratic, he was always appreciated. But for the rest of us, it is only in the past decade that his name, and work, have become well known. In March of this year, Rizzoli published Emily Evans Eerdman's "Henri Samuel: Master of the French Interior." (If you don't already know, in the art and design world, a lush Rizzoli book is the equivalent of an Oscar -- or at least an Emmy.)
For twenty-five years, Henri Samuel worked for the Parisian design firm L. Alavoine, when the firm closed, Henri, using his own name, opened his firm. His small staff worked from his Paris apartment. The year was 1970 and Henri was sixty-six, I love a late bloomer; they always give me hope.

Fashion designer Valentino's Chateau de Wideville, completed just several months before Henri Samuel's death.

Henri Samuel worked in a classic continental style, everything was grand and luxurious. His clients included Gianni Agnelli, Doris Duke, Valentino, assorted Rothschilds, and a host of an elite-circle.

The Palm Beach salon of Charles and Jayne Wrightsman.

Salon Bleu for Louise de Vilmorin

Bedroom at Chateau de Bois-Feuillette

In the late 1980's Henri was hired by Susan and John Gutfreund (former head of Salomon Brothers) to design their 20 room apartment at 834 Fifth Avenue. Incidentally, the apartment is for sale at the reduced price of ninety-six million. (Numerous NY realtors have opined that the apartment is woefully out-of-date and will need to be completely gutted; this is why one never hires a realtor to decorate.)

Susan Gutfreund in the Winter Garden room.

It came as quite a shock when American clients and design aficionados first saw pictures of Henri's own Paris apartment. He mixed avant-garde and contemporary pieces with his neoclassical designs. He is now credited with being among the first to do so. In the 1960's through the 1990's he commissioned artists such as Cesar Baldaccini, Diego Giacometti, and Philippe Hiquily to create pieces for specific projects. Here is his apartment: