Design for a Ceiling with Magnolias

Auguste Herbst was a very versatile artist who is mainly known for his work in the firm of Emile Gallé (French, Nancy 1846–1904 Nancy). As one of his companions and chief designers, Herbst made designs for glass, ceramics and even marquetry, which were produced in Gallé’s workshops in Strasbourg and Nancy. After Gallé died in 1914, Herbst continued to design for the Gallé firm and numerous of his designs for glassware and ceramics are still kept in museum collections. This design for a room decorated with magnolias must have been one of his earlier works. While fitting in well with current developments in interior decoration, the room has a very distinct character. In his interior, Herbst combines a natural rendering of the magnolia tree, growing in an arch-shape around the door, and even throwing shadows on the pink background, with a more stylized pattern reminiscent of contemporary Arts & Crafts designs, seen in the pattern of the rose wall panels and across the ceiling.