The actions of the Mobilier national in the service of the decorative arts

Heir to the Garde-meuble de la Couronne (the Crown Furniture Repository) founded by Louis XIV, the Mobilier national has stood throughout the ages. Serving the decorative arts and the French art of living, it houses 140,000 objects and maintains 7 restoration workshops to furnish the palaces of the Republic. Can it extend its mission, from the king to the general public, from small quantities to social design, and from conservation to contemporary issues? Back in 1964, the Mobilier national and its textile design factories (Gobelins, Beauvais, Savonnerie, Le Puy and Alençon) established the Atelier de Recherche et de Création (a research and design workshop) to provide French designers with a place to experiment, and the industry with an R&D function. Today, it intends to revive the Colbert approach by focusing on the challenges of innovation, re-industrialisation and ecological transition. It also intends to play a role in accelerating entrepreneurship and structuring a premium design sector for all.