Maxime Old
{{Short description|French architect and furniture designer (1910–1991)}}{{Infobox artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Maxime Old
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Maxime Old portrait.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Maxime Old portrait
| caption = Fonds documentaire [http://www.maximeold.com/ Maxime Old]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = French
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1910|12|13}}
| birth_place = Maisons-Alfort, near Paris, France
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1991|11|16|1910|12|13}}
| resting_place = Maisons-Alfort, near Paris, France
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = French
| education =
| alma_mater = école Boulle
| known_for = Interior Architecture, Art Furniture Design
| notable_works = SS France (1961) (First class lounge), Brussels World's Fair, (1958, Hotel Pavillon de France), 1939 New York World's Fair (Pavillon de France), ...
| style = Art Deco, Modern architecture
| movement = Bauhaus, Société des artistes décorateurs, The French Union of Modern Artists
| spouse = Isabelle Duchesne
| partner =
| awards = {{awd|Legion of Honour|1954|Chevalier}}, French {{awd|Academy of Arts and Letters|1965|Chevalier}}
| elected =
| patrons = Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
| memorials =
| website = {{URL|http://www.maximeold.com/en/maxime-old-reference-site/}}
| module =
}}
Maxime Old (1910–1991) was a French interior architect and furniture designer. He is known for his numerous works of art, and as forerunner of the transition from the style of the 30s to modern design.{{Cite book|title=Maxime Old : architecte-décorateur|last=Yves.|first=Badetz|date=2000|publisher=Norma éd|others=Gastou, Yves.|isbn=2909283488|location=Paris|oclc=313645101}} [http://plus.wikimonde.com/wiki/Yves_Badetz Yves Badetz], chief curator at the Orsay Museum, in charge of decorative arts, confesses that “The emotions you feel when looking at Maxime Old’s creations are intense. His thoughtful esthetics freely associates the values of the rational of Bauhaus with Ruhlmann's demand for perfection. His talent is to design the refined outlines anticipating the third millennium."{{Cite journal|last=Elisabeth|first=Védrenne|date=May 2000|title=Les 50 glorieuses de Maxime Old|url=https://www.lejournaldesarts.fr/les-50-glorieuses-de-maxime-old-89412|journal=Le Journal des Arts - l'Oeil}}
Biography
= Family History =
Maxime Old has been born in Maisons-Alfort (Val-de-Marne) in 1910. He is coming from a long line of master cabinetmakers. His father, Louis Old is the son of Jean Léonard (Johann Leonhard) Old, Germany originated, master cabinetmaker. Louis marries Maximillienne, daughter of Joseph (Giuseppe) Carosi, master cabinetmaker, originated from Italy. Working as a team, they decide to fuse the two workshops together to make 37 Rue Chanzy Paris, a workshop that Louis Old will then manage himself. With the help of his spouse and approximately 15 employees at the time, Louis Old realises furniture in order to be sold to furniture stores, as well as individuals.
= Education =
After studying four years at l’Ecole Boulle, Maxime Old graduates top of the year and transfers directly to Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann design team, where he collaborates until the end in 1934. These two great experiences gave him a different perspective, installed a certain demanding nature in him, new techniques, and knowledge, that will then help him transform the family business into a world-renowned decorative art name.
= Initial works and recognition =
In 1934, when J.E. Rulhman dies, his company is close as he ordered it. His customers in contact with Maxime ask him to continue to work for them. Maxime goes back to its family cabinetmaker workshop and turn it round to satisfy this demanding private customer base. Maxime Old quickly develops an elegant, modern style that fits with the demanding requests of his clientele: Industries, politicians, lawyers, doctor etc....{{Cite journal|date=Jun 1945|title=La Tradition du meuble français|journal=Élites Françaises|pages=25–28}} He designs and produces art furniture embedded in interior architecture innovative master plans.{{Cite web|url=https://theredlist.com/wiki-2-18-392-1335-1349-1351-view-french-neoclassicists-1-profile-old-maxime-2.html|title=OLD Maxime|website=The Red List}}
He is particularly known for his elegant transformative pieces of furniture. He has been said the "sofabed inventor"!{{Cite journal|date=1948|title=Le Métier et l'invention dans les intérieurs de Maxime Old|journal=Art et Décoration|pages=1–13}}{{Cite journal|date=January 1956|title=Tables à transformations|journal=Art et Décoration|pages=21–24}}{{Cite journal|last=B.J.L.|date=November 1956|title=Une chambre à transformation|journal=Art et Décoration|pages=16–17}}
In 1939 Maxime Old exhibits his works at the International Exhibition New-York World's Fair.{{Cite journal|date=July 1939|title=Le Pavillon français à l'Exposition internationale de New York|journal=Plaisir de France}}
Until the 1960s, he participates in all of the « Artistes Decorateurs »{{Cite journal|date=July 1949|title=À propos du 38e Salon des artistes décorateurs|journal=La Maison française|pages=23–32}} and "Salons des Arts Ménagers"{{Cite journal|date=1951|title=Ensembles modernes au Salon des arts ménagers|journal=Art et Décoration|pages=1–10}} exhibitions, where many of his art pieces are awarded. This success brings the grand opening of his gallery on Avenue Hoche in Paris in order to exhibit his art, and help young prodigies be recognized by the art world.
Several schools such as the "Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Decoratifs" requested his teaching in art furniture design, he headed the decorative architecture PHD of the school.
= Institutional works =
More and more, simultaneously to his production for private customers, Maxime Old develops his interior architect activity focused on institutional large customers: prestigious ocean liners such as the "SS France (1961)", embassies, famous hotels, large company headquarters, business banks, airports, city halls{{Cite news|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/maxime-old-interiors-1960s-masterpieces-rouen-france|title=Few of Maxime Old's glorious interiors remain, save two well-preserved 1960s masterpieces|last=STECH|first=ADAM|date=9 May 2017|work=Wallpaper part of the Time Inc. UK network}} even presidential palaces, both in France and in other countries.
For these large projects he provides both the overall interior master plan and the all individual pieces of furniture of his own design. He experiences innovative techniques and new materials beside traditional ones to achieve creative functional designs. The professional press points out the consistency of these major work of art.
Modern his style is, modern his thinking is! Beside his prestigious unique pieces Maxime studies models for optimized editions. He teaches it, but never practices it on a large scall basis out of his own control. He was too much a perfectionist to give up.
In 19?? Maxime is awarded Chevalier of the French Academy of Arts and Letters. equivalent to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
In 1954, he is awarded Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
In 1958 he is head of the French hotel trade pavilion interior design for the Universal Exhibition "Brussels World's Fair".{{Cite journal|date=April 1958|title=Bruxelles 58, Maxime Old décore l'hôtel du Pavillon de France|journal=Le Professionnel du Meuble et de l'Ameublement|pages=2}} His work is awarded "Grand Prix".
Significant works
= Shows & Events =
International Exhibition 1939 : New-York World's Fair
International Exhibition 1958 : Brussels World's Fair
From the 30s to the 60s, Old was present in almost every single « Salon des Artistes Decorateurs, » the most famous art furniture exhibit in France at this time.
From the 50s to the 60s, Salon des Arts Ménagers, modern & functional housing exhibition in Paris
= Ocean liners =
SS Atlantique,{{Cite journal|date=November 1931|title=Le Paquebot L'Atlantique et les beaux métiers|journal=Art et Décoration}} SS La Marseillaise, SS Île-de-France,{{Cite journal|date=October 1949|title=Le Paquebot Île-de-France et son aménagement|journal=Mobilier et Décoration|pages=29–40}} SS Liberté,{{Cite journal|last=LAFONT|first=A.|date=October 1950|title=La Transformation du paquebot Liberté|journal=Journal de la Marine marchande et de la navigation aérienne}} SS Antilles, SS Flandre, SS Ville de Marseille, SS Ville de Tunis, SS France (1961), SS Ancerville{{Cite journal|last=MAZELLIER|first=Yves|date=May 1962|title=Un navire intelligent Ancerville|journal=L'Antenne}}
= Embassies and Palaces =
Foreign Office France, French embassies in : Oslo (Norway), La Haye (Netherlands),{{Cite journal|date=July 1955|title=Slotbeschouwing over Maxime Old|journal=Dagblad Scheepvaart}} Ottawa (Canada), Ghana, Helsinki (Finland)
President H. Bourguiba Palace (Tunisia), Mohammed V of Morocco Palace (Morocco)
= Banks & Companies headquarters =
Société des Forges Le Creusot,{{Cite journal|date=1953|title=L'Ordonnance d'un cabinet directorial par Maxime Old|journal=Mobilier et Décoration|pages=1–4}} Framatome, Régie Autonome des Pétroles, Compagnie Française du Raffinage, Caisse Centrale du Crédit Immobilier et Commercial, banque de l'Union Européenne Industrielle et Financière{{Cite journal|date=June–July 1968|title=Du XVIIIe au siècle, l'architecture du siège de la Banque de l'union européenne industrielle et financière|journal=Bureaux D Aujourd'hui}}
= Hotels =
Marhaba Hotel in Casablanca (Morocco),{{Cite journal|date=1955|title=Maxime Old, l'hôtel Marhaba à Casablanca|journal=Mobilier et Décoration|pages=1–5}}{{Cite journal|date=1956|title=L'Hôtel Marhaba à Casablanca|journal=Techniques et Architecture|pages=74}} El Aurassi à Alger (Algeria), Le Fort Royal à Deshaies (Guadeloupe), Frantel Paris-Orly
= Other major projects =
Bibliography
[http://plus.wikimonde.com/wiki/Yves_Badetz Yves Badetz], Maxime Old Architecte-Décorateur, [http://www.editions-norma.com/nouveautes/maxime-old.html Editions Norma, 2000] ({{ISBN|2909283488}}), [https://books.google.com/books?id=xGdoQgAACAAJ read on line]
[https://www.connaissancedesarts.com/auteur/elisabeth-vedrenne/ Elisabeth Védrenne], Les 50 glorieuses de Maxime Old, [https://www.lejournaldesarts.fr/les-50-glorieuses-de-maxime-old-89412 Le journal des Arts.fr - l'Oeil, 2000], [http://www.maximeold.com/wp-content/uploads/PDF/Article%20les%2050%20glorieuses%20de%20Maxime%20Old.PDF preview on line]
Lorraine Tissier-Rebour, Art history master thesis : Maxime Old : Une inventivité et un savoir-faire à la rencontre de la modernité, Paris-Sorbonne University, 2014, [http://www.maximeold.com/wp-content/uploads/PDF/M%C3%A9moire%20Maxime%20Old%20de%20Lorraine%20Tissier%20Rebour.pdf read on line]
[http://www.editions-norma.com/les-auteurs/recherche/null.html Armelle Bouchet-Mazas], [http://www.editions-norma.com/le-paquebot-france.html#product-tabs2 Le Paquebot France, Editions Norma 2006], [http://www.maximeold.com/wp-content/uploads/PDF/Le%20Paquebot%20France%20-%20Maxime%20Old.PDF preview on line]
René Chavance, [http://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/ Bibliothèque Nationale de France], [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k58588187.image Art et décoration 1937], [http://www.maximeold.com/wp-content/uploads/PDF/Article%20Maxime%20Old%20Art%20et%20D%C3%A9coration%201937.pdf preview on line]
Pierre Kjellberg, [http://www.editionsdelamateur.fr/pages/mobilier_page/mobilier_francais.html Le mobilier du XX siècle, Dictionnaire des créateurs], [http://www.editionsdelamateur.fr/ Editions de l'Amateur], 1994, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XoGTQgAACAAJ preview on line]
Notes and references
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.maximeold.com/bibliography/ Bibliography summary]
- [http://www.maximeold.com/en/maxime-old-reference-site/ Maxime Old reference site]
- [http://www.docantic.com/en/page/79/maxime-old-1910-1991-biographie Docantic Maxime Old Biographie]
- [https://theredlist.com/wiki-2-18-392-1335-1349-1351-view-french-neoclassicists-1-profile-old-maxime-2.html The Red List; Old Maxime page]
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