Serving a Double Diplomatic Mission: Strategic Alliances between Belgian and American Furniture Companies in the Postwar Era KU Leuven
n the postwar era, De Coene, then one of Belgium’s largest furniture firms, and Jules Wabbes, one of the most progressive contemporary Belgian designers, each signed a contract to sell and produce products of US-based furniture companies – Knoll and Dunbar respectively. In engaging in these business deals they became directly involved in the mechanisms of US representation. At the same time both De Coene and Wabbes contributed to highly ...