Among them were Hector Guimard, Eugène Grasset, Raoul Lachenal, Paul Bellot, Maurice Dufrêne and Émile Decoeur.

[2] The Société des artistes décorateurs (SAD) was founded in 1901 in response to increasing interest in France in fine and applied arts.

[5] Jourdain published many articles on modern art and aesthetics in which he attacked the ostentatious luxury that was typical of contemporary French design.

His design used smooth wood paneling on the walls and ceilings that resembled riveted sheets of metal.

In the period after World War II (1939–45) there was increased interest in using new methods and materials for mass production of furniture.