Eric Schmitt

This impressive book offers a comprehensive overview of designer and sculptor Eric Schmitt’s work, focusing on the years 2015–2025 while tracing the notable shifts of his practice since the 1980s. Working primarily with noble materials such as patinated bronze, alabaster, marble, natural stone, and glass, Schmitt blends traditional French craftsmanship with a modern aesthetic to create functional works of art that balance geometry, fluidity, and subtle strength. Written in English and French, the book opens with an introduction by Patrick Mauriès, who charts the development of Schmitt’s artistic influences—from his early fascination with the Creative Salvage movement in the 1980s to his enduring commitment to hands-on fabrication. Organized thematically, the book’s central section explores Schmitt’s creations through chapters such as Cornerstones, Metal & Company, Levitation, and Material Illusions, with opening ommentaries by Axelle Corty.

Through stunning photography by Adrien Dirand, readers are invited onto the grounds of Le Chapitre, while Alexandra Babeanu’s text shares the story behind the restored 12th-century farm that serves as Schmitt’s home, studio, and collaborative workshop. 

The volume concludes with an extensive catalogue raisonné of more than 700 pieces, establishing the book as both a visual archive and an essential reference for collectors, curators, and design professionals. Eric Schmitt portrays the distinguished designer’s multi-faceted practice, one that continues to blur the boundaries between design,

sculpture, and architecture.

Eric Schmitt (born in 1955) is a renowned French designer and sculptor internationally recognized for his sculptural, timeless furniture and objects. Self-taught, he began his career creating expressive wrought-iron pieces before evolving toward refined, minimal-ist forms inspired by nature, architecture, and his upbringing in Poitou, France.

Text in English and French