Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

Art Deco to This Day. Design and Craftsmanship in France

From 12 March to 17 May 2026, the exhibition Art Deco to This Day. Design and Craftsmanship in France will be on show at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design (10 Skārņu Street, Riga). The exhibition is a powerful testament to the enduring value of craftsmanship and the creative synergy between designers and makers in today’s globalised and standardised world.

Alongside Gobelins tapestries and furniture from the French Mobilier National (MN, the French National Furniture Institution) collection, the exhibition is further enriched by a selection of Daum Art Deco glass vases, courtesy of the Esterkin family’s private collection. These exceptional pieces, the likes of which are rarely on display in Latvian museums and collections, offer a nuanced insight into the heritage and legacy of European and French design and craftsmanship.

Following the 2018 exhibition Colour of Gobelins, held alongside the 6th Riga International Textile and Fibre Art Triennial Tradition and Innovation, the Latvian National Museum of Art established a productive collaboration with the French experts at the Mobilier National. This partnership has proven to be a valuable exchange of expertise and has this year resulted in a new and ambitious project, offering the Latvian public the chance to explore a rich collection that highlights the creative collaboration of designers and makers from the Art Deco period to the present day.

The Mobilier National is a government institution operating under the French Ministry of Culture. Championing art and craftsmanship since the 17th century, its mission is to ensure the preservation and restoration of unique collections, as well as the passing on of specialist knowledge and skills. The institution is a significant guardian of cultural heritage and a leading force in the development of contemporary French decorative arts and design.

The Mobilier National manufactures and restores tens of thousands of objects and pieces of furniture used in interior design and decoration for buildings in France and abroad. More than 340 employees ensure that the institution upholds the highest standards of quality. Atelier de Recherche et de Création (ARC), a centre for research and creative work, fosters innovation in contemporary design in France. With seven restoration workshops specialising in wood, metal and textiles, the Mobilier National preserves and promotes cultural heritage while maintaining a resolutely forward-looking approach, nurturing the vitality of artistic creation and contemporary design.

In 1925, the French government launched the ambitious International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris with a clear objective – to showcase and celebrate contemporary French design. The exhibition of innovative ideas sparked the global rise of Art Deco, leaving a lasting impact on 20th-century design as a whole. Its hallmarks – bold, symmetrical patterns, clean lines and aerodynamic, streamlined forms – have continued to influence architecture, interior design and fashion to this day. A century after its debut in Paris, the Art Deco movement continues to inspire with its modern sensibility, elegance and formal freedom, evoking a sense of nostalgia by bringing together perspectives of the past and the present. Visitors will be able to fully appreciate this by exploring the objects and the exceptional Daum Art Deco vases from the Esterkin family collection on display.

Daum is a crystal studio based in Nancy, France, founded in 1878 by Jean Daum (1825–1885). Jean’s sons Auguste Daum (1853–1909) and Antonin Daum (1864–1931) oversaw its growth, and during the burgeoning Art Nouveau period, created one of the most prominent glassworks in France. At the 1900 Universal Exhibition, Daum was awarded the Grand Prix. The company competed closely with Gallé, and following the death of Émile Gallé in 1904, Daum became a leading force in the field of decorative glass in France, refining its distinctive style during the Art Deco period.

Leonid Esterkin acquired his first Daum Art Deco vase, featuring a geometric pattern, before he was aware of the long-standing traditions of this Nancy-based company. The purchase ignited a passion for further research and the thrill of collecting, ultimately leading him to build one of the most beautiful and valuable private collections of Daum Art Deco glassware. Leonid Esterkin is pleased to share his enthusiasm with the Latvian public by presenting some of the collection’s finest pieces.

The exhibition’s visual concept was developed by internationally acclaimed Latvian designer Artūrs Analts, whose aim is to emphasise the unique artistic quality and craftsmanship of each object on display.

Alongside the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to engage with a comprehensive programme, including lectures, a conversation on the traditions and development of private collections in the 21st century, creative workshops, a panel discussion, and other events designed to enhance public understanding of design and craftsmanship, as well as their future prospects.

The exhibition is organised with the support of the Latvian National Museum of Art’s long-standing partners – the French Institute in Latvia and the French Embassy in Latvia. The museum would like to thank the State Culture Capital Foundation, Rietumu Banka and its Future Supporting Fund for their invaluable contribution and for recognising the significance of this project.

Inese Baranovska