RIGA.- From 12 March to 17 May 2026, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Riga invites to visit the exhibition Art Deco to This Day. Design and Craftsmanship in France presenting a powerful testament to the enduring value of craftsmanship and the creative synergy between designers and makers in today’s globalized and standardized world.

Alongside tapestries and furniture from the French Mobilier national (MN, National Furniture Foundation) 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 as part of the 6th Riga International Textile and Fibre Art Triennial Tradition and Innovation, the Latvian National Museum of Art established a productive co-operation 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 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.

Since 1 January 2025, all the historical manufactories have been joined under the National Manufactories, Sèvres and National Furniture Foundation (Manufactures nationales, Sèvres & Mobilier national). It is governed by the Ministry of Culture of France that is also supervising, besides others, the Gobelin manufactory and its museum in Paris, Beauvais manufactory, Sèvres porcelain manufactory and its museum. Championing art and craftsmanship since the 17th century, the Foundation’s mission is to ensure the preservation and restoration of unique collections, as well as the passing on of specialist knowledge and skills. This 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 specializing 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. This exhibition of innovative ideas sparked the global rise of Art Deco style, leaving a lasting impact on 20th-century design as a whole. Its hallmarks – bold, symmetrical patterns, clean lines and aerodynamic, streamlined forms – have influenced 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 era, created one of the most prominent glassware manufacturers in France. At the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris, 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 items.

The exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design showcases historically outstanding samples of design and craftsmanship covering the period from Art Deco to the nowadays. Exposition represents works created by Leonetto Cappiello (1875–1942), Raoul Dufy (1877–1953), Jean Lurçat (1892–1966), Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), Victor Vasarely (1906–1997), Sylvain Dubuisson (1946), Philippe Starck (1949), and other remarkable French designers, artists and architects.

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

The exhibition is organized 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 recognizing the importance of this project.

Text by Inese Baranovska