Louis-Jean-Sylvestre Majorelle, more commonly known as Louis Majorelle, was a French artist, metalworker and Art Nouveau designer celebrated for his bedroom furniture, cabinets, chairs and decorative objects.
In 1877, Majorelle moved to Paris from the town of Nancy where he began his studies in painting under Jean-François Millet at the École de Beaux Arts. Following the death of his father, a furniture designer, he returned to Nancy and took over the family workshop. Parisian architect Henri Sauvage designed Majorelle’s house in Nancy, Villa Majorelle, which featured stained glass by Jacques Gruber.
In order to increase productivity and reduce costs — as well as shift the family business’s focus from reproductions of 18th-century furniture such as Louis XV chairs to instead working in the era’s Art Nouveau style — Majorelle integrated modern techniques and processes at his atelier (these changes were in part inspired by innovative glassmaker Emile Gallé).
The workshop became known for Majorelle’s distinctive designs and the pronounced craftsmanship of its offerings. There were tables made from mahogany and ormolu that featured handsome bronze mounts and marquetry, table lamps that shared common ground with the prized designs associated with Tiffany Studios, and decorative pieces that Majorelle produced in partnership with Daum, a revered manufacturer of French art glass.
The work was very much characterized by the botanical motifs and curvaceous silhouettes of Art Nouveau design, and the business was successful. Majorelle produced a range of items during the early 1900s and was a participant in the 1900 Paris Exposition as well as the Exposition de l'Ecole de Nancy in 1903.
In 1916, a devastating fire broke out in Majorelle’s factory on the rue du Vieil-Aître in Nancy. It destroyed all of the company’s awards, sketches, molds, equipment and archives of Majorelle’s work. In 1917, destruction again shook his business when his shop on the rue Saint-Georges was bombed by German aircraft. The designer marched on — he relocated to Paris where he shared a workspace and created vases and other vessels in the Art Deco style before he moved back to Nancy. Majorelle designed the Nancy Pavilion at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in 1925 with Alfred Lévy. He died in 1926.
Find antique Louis Majorelle cabinets, seating and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Art Nouveau Mahogany French Balloon Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Art Nouveau mahogany Balloon clock with satinwood inlay and standing on brass ball feet. Enamel dial with Arabic numerals and original hands. Eig...
Mahogany
Antique French Wooden Chiming Mantel Clock, circa 1900
Located in Detroit, MI
This beautiful antique French wooden mantel clock was made in France circa 1900. This chiming clock with pendulum has a uniquely elegant design with clean, rectilinear lines and gent...
Brass
$25,458
H 106 in W 25 in D 15 in
Early 20th Century carved mahogany long case clock by Maples & Co of London
Located in Martlesham, GB
A magnificent and excellent quality early 20th Century mahogany long case clock by Maples & co of London, having a fabulous carved mahogany case incorporating various carved shell, l...
Mahogany
19th Century French Tall Case Clock or Horloge De Parquet
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine early 19th century French Horloge De Parquet, or tall case clock, from Provence made of solid walnut. The case is in three parts with paneled sides and beautiful hand carvings...
Walnut
Wooden clock in Art Nouveau style, Junghans, Germany, 1910
By Junghans Uhren GmbH
Located in Rīga, LV
A German Art Nouveau wooden mantel clock by Junghans, made circa 1910. The case has an architectural arched form with decorative wood inlay to the front, rounded bun feet and side sound grilles. The clock features an ornate brass dial plate with engraved floral decoration, a silvered chapter ring with Arabic numerals and two subsidiary dials above. One subsidiary dial is marked Chime / Silent, while the other is for regulation of the movement. The brass movement is stamped with the Junghans eight-point star trademark and marked “B10”. On Junghans movements of this period, this marking is generally understood as a date code: “B” indicating the second half of the year and “10” indicating 1910. Therefore, the movement can be dated to the second half of 1910. The case combines dark polished wood with warm brass details, giving the clock a refined early 20th century Art Nouveau appearance. A decorative and collectible German mantel clock...
Brass
Edwardian Mahogany Grandmother Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Edwardian mahogany Grandmother clock standing on a stepped base with inset roundel, break arch pediment with long trunk door. Brass dial...
Mahogany
Art Nouveau Mahogany Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Art Nouveau mahogany mantel clock Mahogany cased mantel clock with arch top, brass side carrying handles and satinwood and mother of pearl stri...
Mahogany
19th Century French Tall Case Clock or Horloge de Parquet
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Country horloge de parquet, or tall case clock. The case is made of oak and beechwood with raised pearwood panels. In two parts, with a curved shaped body and p...
Enamel, Brass
Very rare vienna secession floor clock
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
The clock stands tall within a mahogany cabinet, giving it a stately and refined appearance. The wood has a high-gloss finish, which beautifully reflects light and suggests careful p...
Brass
Léon Jallot, Oak Grandfather Clock, France, 1910
By Léon Jallot
Located in New York, NY
An magnificent clock with a floral motif dating from the early 20th century, and created by master ebeniste Le´on Jallot. For an illustration of a similar model, see: Duncan, Alasta...
Oak
Louis Majorelle French Art Nouveau Games Table
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau games table by Louis Majorelle, featuring an inlaid marquetry top and carved legs and skirt. The marquetry decoration features stems, leave and, flowers around a...
Wood
French Art Nouveau Table by Louis Majorelle
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau mahogany salon table with fruitwood marquetry by Louis Majorelle. The table top is decorated with leaves and vines. The legs have carved flowers, circa 1900. ...
Fruitwood
French Art Nouveau Wooden Pedestal by Emile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau selette by Émile Gallé. Gallé made very few selettes of this quality and design during his career, and even fewer of those with curved lower pieces that reunite ...
Wood
French Art Nouveau Wooden Pedestal by Emile Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau two-tiered square pedestal with carved and marquetry decoration by Emile Gallé. The pedestal has two marquetry shelves depicting leaves. Its four sinuous legs ar...
Wood
Louis Majorelle Three-tiered Pedestal
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
This French Art Nouveau three-tiered walnut pedestal by Louis Majorelle, features a rotating tray on the top. Striated grooves adorn the upper portion of the legs. The gently curving...
Fruitwood
Louis Majorelle French Art Nouveau Wooden Table
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau mahogany center table by Louis Majorelle, the rounded top above a slightly bowed frieze, over downswept tapering channeled legs joined by a conforming undertier,...
Bronze
