Cavalcade for Maison Myrbor
Jean Lurçat designed Cavalcade for Maison Myrbor.
Marie Cuttoli (1879-1973) founded Maison Myrbor in 1926, following her pioneering work in Algeria. She used this gallery to promote ‘Modernist’ rugs designed by young, avant-garde artists active in Paris at the time. Jean Lurçat, a painter and tapestry designer, was one of the first artists to collaborate with her. He based his signature style on abstract depictions of real and imaginary creatures, drawing inspiration from Greek mythology and ancient Chinese bronzes. While Lurçat designed carpets for several French firms, people most often associate his name with the rebirth of the Aubusson tapestry weaving tradition, for which he created a series of cartoons.
Lurçat originally designed the present carpet for Helena Rubinstein’s New York apartment. It features a frieze of mythical winged horses on both ends, set against an open field, chartreuse-green background.
This piece represents one of the earliest Lurçat patterns commissioned by Marie Cuttoli. It showcases his particular genius by confidently blending radical minimalism with a striking homage to the ancient world.