The art of collecting—from artist’s palettes still freckled with oil paint, to sculpted picture frames, to a menagerie of wooden toy animals—associating an accumulation of kindred objects is at the core of timeless French style.

This definitive survey of one of the most popular, collectable and dynamic periods of international design offers a rich overview of all aspects of the subject. Mid-century furniture, lighting, glass, ceramics, textiles, product design, industrial design, graphics and posters are covered, as well as architecture and interior design, exemplifying post-war optimism and energy…