Born in Saverne in 1862, François-Rupert Carabin was a leading figure in the renewal of decorative arts at the turn of the 20th century. Trained in Paris after the Franco-Prussian War, he developed an early passion for sculpture and drawing, enriched by his in-depth study of anatomy.

Carabin gained recognition for his unique sculpted furniture, where female nudes, integrated into bookcases, chairs, and desks, expressed both his singular vision of womanhood and his organic relationship with wood. Landmark creations such as the bookcase for Montandon (1890) or furniture designed for Albert Kahn embody the innovative spirit of L’Art dans Tout, a movement he joined alongside Charpentier, Plumet, and Sauvage.

A versatile artist, he also explored bronze sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, and photography. His series of statuettes inspired by Loïe Fuller reflected his fascination with movement and modernity. Awarded the Palmes académiques (1893) and the Légion d’honneur (1903), he achieved official recognition while remaining a fiercely independent creator.

In 1920, Carabin was appointed director of the École supérieure des arts décoratifs in Strasbourg, where he reformed teaching methods, focusing on workshop practice and the training of the “elite artisan.” Though his artistic output slowed, he still created monumental works such as the War Memorial of Saverne (destroyed in 1940).

Today, François-Rupert Carabin’s work is regarded as one of the most striking expressions of French Art Nouveau, blending sculptural furniture, symbolic eroticism, and a pioneering defense of the decorative arts. His creations, preserved in collections such as the Petit Palais in Paris, exemplify a vision of total art at the crossroads of sculpture and design.