In the early 1930’s, a young American from the middle west attended the Paris branch of The Parsons School of Design. He stayed on to become an instructor and ultimately director. His name: Van Day Truex. At the onset of World War II, Truex moved to New York and became president of Parsons, recruiting the greatest interior decorators of the day as both teachers and guest critics. From 1947-1960, New York was the world capital of the decorative arts and at it’s center was The Parsons School and Truex who believed the rooms we live in should be nothing less than a celebration of the lives we lead. It is our mission to bring back the best of this era to contemporary interiors as a special collection within Karges by Hand. The name is in honor of Truex, inspiration comes not solely from Van, but from those he inspired as his era continues to inspire us.
“There’s a difference between existing and living.”-Van Day Truex

The structure of the Louis XVI (1774-1793) period furniture changed from the curved lines, preferred by the previously reigning French monarch, to straighter lines. Elements were fine in scale and proportion and simpler than in the Louis XV period. During this period, a great deal of money was spent on furniture design as well as on other creature comforts. Louis XVI furniture, sometimes referred to as Neoclassical, was very feminine in all aspects and many pieces were painted using light and dainty colors and designs. Idealistic motifs, especially pastoral scenes with love birds, nymphs and cherubs were used as ornamentation.