Surrealist Design

Although the Surrealist movement took shape in the early 20th century, it is usually associated with Dalí's bizarre paintings or Buñuel's disturbing films. But its influence extended far beyond the visual arts. As a result, Surrealism was to be found in every field, including the decorative arts.

The Surrealists were particularly prominent in furniture. They undermined the very idea of what an object should be, making it difficult for people to tell which side of design and art they were on. In particular, the functional and the fantastic began to coexist.

At its core, surrealist design is a...