BATISTIN SPADE (1891-1969)

The Liberté was formerly the German ocean liner, Europa, before it was given to the French in 1945 by the UN Reparations Commission in compensation for the loss of the Normandie. The ship underwent renovations and transformed into a magnificent French line adorned with a luxurious art deco interior including some furnishings from the earlier ocean liners, Ile de France, Champlain and the Normandie. The present armchairs were in the Grand Salon, first class of the Liberté designed by Batistin Spade.
cf. W.H. Miller, The Fabulous Interiors of the Great Ocean Liners in Historic Photographs, New York, 1985, p. 110 for an illustration of this model in the Grand Salon.
W.H. Miller, The Great Luxury Liners 1927-1954 A Photographic Record, New York, 1981, p. 135 for an illustration of this model in situ.