Eugene Schoen (1880-1957) was born in New York City. He attended Columbia University, graduating in 1901 with a degree in architecture. The Paris Exposition of 1925 inspired him to open an interior decorating business specializing in the new Modern movement. He designed furniture, rugs, and occasional items for his clients. His work was exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s two exhibits of industrial design.
Schoen had a wealthy clientele and his combination of the best of New York, Paris, and Vienna with the quality of craftsmanship of his furniture, mostly executed by Schmieg, Hungate, and Kotzian, brought him ample commissions through the Great Depression. He maintained his exclusivity by selling through other decorators or to his own clients. Most of his furniture is, and was, promoted as, “one of a kind”.
The following quote Is from an article in the March 1928 issue of Good Furniture magazine titled, “An Architect-Designer of Modern Furniture”. “One of the curious features of Mr. Schoen’s work, but one to which he stead fastly clings, is the slogan of ‘No Duplication’. In 1929 he abrogated that dictum and designed a line of furniture for S. Karpen & Brothers and later designed furniture for Grosfield House.
Schoen continued to design furniture until about 1940. He passed away in 1957.