René Herbst was a skilled architect and decorator who cannot be confined to a single category. His passionate temperament, fervent curiosity and pragmatic character set a cornerstone in the history of 20th century design. He reacted fiercely against the status quo of decorative arts, heir of the ‘arts and crafts’ tradition, and defended the need of adapting it to the possibilities of the post-war industry.

“The forms denatured because of the superfluous decorations should be substituted for useful and functional forms. We should advocate for the truth, the simplicity and the coherence. Renovate the lifestyle of the French people, liberating them from a conservative and old-fashioned environment in creating a Universe best adapted to the world by using the new techniques.” (Manifesto U.A.M., 1934)

In 1929 Herbst founded the ‘Union des Artistes Modernes’, together with renowned architects and designers such as Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé. He rapidly became the theorist of the movement, encouraging a form of design that responds to real human needs, connecting aesthetic and industry.

This desk is a unique piece produced for the designer’s own apartment in Rue de Chateaubriand, Paris, and is an outstanding example of Herbst's aim for adapting furniture to real human needs without neglecting beauty and aesthetics.