1903-24 Arbus is born in Toulouse, France, into a family of
cabinetmakers. Trains at École des Beaux-Arts. Joins
his father’s cabinetmaking firm, which he later heads.
1925-33 Debuts his work at the Exhibition Internationale, the
Salon des Tuileries, La Galerie des Quatre Chemins,
Salon d’Automne and Salon des Artistes, Décorateurs.
1930 Begins selling his work through L’Epoque gallery
in Paris.
1934 Awarded the Premier Prix Blumenthal.
1935 Opens his own gallery on Avenue Matignon. Collaborates
with Marc Saint-Saens (painter), Androusov (sculpted
decoration in wood, gesso and terra cotta), Paule Marrot
(upholstery), Gilbert Poillerat (wrought iron), Belmondo
(bas-reliefs) and Bagues (light fixtures).
1937 Presents “La Maison d’une Famille Française” with
elements created by the Beaux Métiers studio, of
which he was the art director.
1938 Presents his work at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs.
1939 Exhibits at the World’s Fair. Designs the French section
at the Expo of New York and Expo of San Francisco.
1940 Commissioned by Raoul Dautry to design a village
in le Gard.
1945 Decorates the office of General Marshall as well as
furniture offered as gifts by General De Gaulle to
foreign heads of state.
1946 Decorates the presidential apartment in Rambouillet.
Designs furnishings for the office of Jacques Jaujard,
Director General of Arts and Letters.
Decorates the French Embassy at The Hague.
1950 Designs a jewel cabinet for Princess Elizabeth of England.
Decorates the great reception hall of the Palais de l’Élysée.
1951 Named head of studio at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure
des Arts Décoratifs. Decorates the cruise ship Provence.
Decorates the grand salon of the home of General
Eisenhower at Marnes-la-Coquette.
1952 Decorates the ocean liners Bretagne, Viet-Nam and
Nossi-Be. Exhibits “The Genius of Paris” bronze furniture.
1953 Decorates the ocean liner Jean Laborde. Collaborates
with Raymond Subes to design the grand necklace of the
Legion of Honor. Decorates the Government palace
at Dakar.
1955 Decorates the Consular palace of the Chamber of
Commerce of Rouen, as well as the French Embassy
in Washington.
1958 Wins grand prize at the Exposition de Bruxelles.
1960 Decorates the National Center for Scientific Research and
the office of the Secretary General of NATO, as well as the
NATO headquarters in Paris.
1963 Placed in charge of the École Nationale Supérieure des
Beaux-Arts in Gimond’s Studio.
1964 Designs and oversees the construction of la Chapelle
Saint-Augustin d’Eguilles in Provence.
1969 Passes away at the age of 66 in Paris.
Significant DateS
