One of these was the discovery of several dozen colourful design drawings that have survived in the collections of Umaid Bhawan Palace, where the artist worked in Jodhpur.

Stefan Norblin – furniture designer

The discovery of these designs, together with access to elements of the residence’s original furnishings that are still in use today, provided the basis for a more complete picture of Stefan Norblin’s (1892 – 1952) with a new discipline , namely furniture design . The task facing the artist arose rather unexpectedly when the Maharaja of Jodhpur , Umaid Singh (1903 – 1947), as the owner of a newly built palace , was grappling with the consequences of a cargo ship sinking, on , on board which the furniture he had commissioned from the London firm ‘Maples’ was being transported to the port of Mumbai. These circumstances led the Maharaja to commission the interior design of the palace from the Polish artist Stefan Norblin , who was already working on its mural decoration .

This information only came to light more than sixty years later, when a representative of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage was finalising the scope of conservation work with the palace’s then-owner, Gaj Singh II. During the meeting, the Maharaja mentioned further works by the artist that had been preserved in the palace. These consisted of more than twenty colourful drawings on cardboard depicting the palace’s interiors. Several of them – much like some of the paintings being conserved at the time – bore the inscription: ‘S. Norblin’. In light of this unexpected discovery, the Polish side decided to conserve the artefacts that had come to light. The work carried out on them revealed further details that filled in a previously unknown chapter in the artist’s life, adding new dimensions to his work and unveiling further creative talents.

Timeless design at the crossroads of cultures

Stefan Norblin carried out the task entrusted to him comprehensively: from familiarising himself with the character of the interiors he was to design, through the design process—during which several design variants were produced, one of which, approved by the client, was finalised. An analysis of the discovered designs, alongside parallel research into their assignment to specific rooms, revealed new facts. Norblin, whilst carrying out the commission to arrange the interior design—including the design of furniture and the completion of the whole with a pictorial composition— created over a dozen designs for modern, spacious palatial interiors, which, as captured in the rediscovered drawings, despite their unconventional nature, possessed features in line with the fashionable design trends prevailing in Europe at the time.

The artist’s personality and his keen interest in stylistic innovations had a huge influence on this situation. He had the opportunity to familiarise himself with them during the international architectural exhibitions held in Paris in the 1930s. This hypothesis is supported by the forms of the furniture designed by the artist, which clearly draw on the style of French Art Deco designers associated with the Compagnie des Arts Français, in particular the works of the Parisian firm Louis Se ( 1875 – 1968 ) and Andr é Mare ( 1885–1932 ), who designed entire interiors from start to finish . This inspiration is clearly evident in ’s drawing depicting one of ’s unrealised designs for the Maharani’s bedroom, where, above the bed, which was more in the Norblin style, he designed a canopy in the style of the First Empire.

Among the completed projects, one can find examples of structural solutions employed by a French designer from the traditionalist circle, who was fashionable and popular in the 1930s - Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann ( 1879 – 1933 ). The inspiration drawn from this designer’s work is evident in the armchairs designed by Norblin, featuring sleek, high headrests, which he proposed for the Maharani’s blue sitting room. This is also evident in the design of the bedroom, which draws the eye to the enormous bed with bedside tables integrated into the line of the headboard.

Traces of these influences can also be found in the subtle decoration which Norblin introduced , modelled on Ruhlmann’s designs, using, amongst other things, narrow metal strips, distinctive ornate bases, sideboards and cabinets, as well as the rhythmic indentations he incorporated into the bodies of bedside tables and study furniture.

Craftsmanship that has stood the test of time

Whilst working on the comprehensive interior design of the rooms entrusted to him at Umaid Bahwan Palace, Stefan Norblin fully embraced the principles advocated by his contemporary designers, who suggested that the designed furnishings should stylistically complement the building’s architectural design. When designing modern apartments, he assigned the functions of tall sideboards to low, long sideboards. Their presence lent the rooms a sense of lightness, creating the impression of an orderly space subtly adorned with geometrically shaped furniture of perfect proportions.

Furthermore, whilst carrying out the comprehensive commission from the ruler of Jodhpur, the artist carefully selected the materials from which the designed furniture was crafted. He placed great emphasis on the high quality of the timber—which is highly prized in this part of the world—as well as the selection of colour schemes for fabrics, natural leathers, metal mouldings, and thick-cut glass and mirrors.

Whilst supervising the progress of this commission—which was unusual for his work to date —Norblin personally took part in all stages of the work, discussing the details with the craftsmen employed by the Maharaja. The rediscovered drawings and their realisations prove that rose brilliantly to the challenge, combining modern forms with the tastes of his Oriental client. This resulted in pieces characterised by their balanced, modern form, the high quality of the materials used and their durability , which means that much of the furniture created at that time can still be admired today when visiting Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, one of the largest private residences in the world.