DISCOVERING ECART IN PARIS
Visitng the beautiful Ecart in Paris was like a welcomed refuge off the somewhat busy streets in September. The door was open which was already a welcoming sign, no abrupt doorbell or appointment required like most showrooms in the 6th arrondissement. As soon as I put my first foot inside on the crème carpet I knew I was in the right place. The warm creamy tones met with the walls and continued to the ceilings, wrapping you completely. I had not just walked into an inspiring showroom, but an exhibition of the genius Jean-Michel Frank (born 1895) who was one of the most visionary designers of the twentieth century.
Jean-Michel Frank - Sofa, c. 1926
I said ‘bonjour’ to gentleman who greeted me in a navy pin-tripe shirt and tailored pants with loafers. He was tanned and effortlessly chic as if a perfect statue in the room.
I learnt that Jean-Michel Frank was a self-taught designer who drew inspiration from the history of styles while developing a language that was unmistakably his own. He forged a third path between the opulence of Art Deco and the emerging language of Modernism. His work was both restrained and elegant. From age 24 he created his first interiors including his own apartment in Paris which established his reputation and led to prestigious clientele. Partnering with cabinetmakers, Frank created his very own body of furniture which was remarkably original, featuring natural materials, parchment, scraped oak, rattan and rye straw.
After international expansion, Frank thrived from rejecting ornamental design by favouring the simple dialogue between material and space. At age 40 Frank opened a boutique in Paris, becoming a leading destination for interior decoration.
Sadly the Second World War brought Frank's extraordinary career to an abrupt end. Because he was of Jewish Heritage and a gay man, Frank went into exile in Buenos Aires before traveling to New York, where he took his own life in 1941 (age 46).
So the room I had stepped into was not just a pretty shop selling furniture, it was a glimpse into the work of one of the most distinctive and influential expressions of modern interior design.
ECART has showcased Frank’s collection since the 1980s, and now shares some unpublished designs. It was a true honour to explore the space and learn of Jean-Michel Frank’s life and true style. I life that was way too short, yet lives on forever in the spaces we design. How lucky are we.
Interiors by Jean-Michel Frank - 1930’s
Armchair, 1937 by Jean-Michel Frank.
ECART 18 rue Jacob, 75006 Paris, France