Biography

Louis Majorelle is one of the most important furniture designers and ebenists of Art Nouveau, he succeeded in incorporating natural forms into the design of furniture, lighting and everyday objects. In particular, he gave his furniture designs a dynamic upward movement through curved feet, which he countered with a pronounced horizontal finish as a counterweight. He attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris from 1877-79, and his work was exhibited at the Salon at the age of sixteen. His career as a painter came to an abrupt end, however, when in 1879 he had to take over the faience and furniture business of his father Auguste, who had died suddenly. Inspired by Emile Gallé's successes at the Paris World's Fairs, from the late 1880s Majorelle produced high-quality furniture in the new Art Nouveau aesthetic, with fine marquetry decorations using local and exotic woods to create painterly effects. Majorelle secured the collaboration of outstanding artisans, including Jacques Gruber and Camille Gauthier, who later established his own manufactory. In 1894, Majorelle first showed furniture in the Art Nouveau style at the Salon des Artistes Lorrain in Nancy. 1898 saw the construction of new company buildings in Nancy, and in 1900 Majorelle presented the much acclaimed study 'les Nénuphars' at the Paris World's Fair, this made him famous as a leading ebenist of his era. From 1901 he was one of the vice-presidents of the famous Ecole de Nancy.In the following years, several branches were opened in Paris, Lille and Lyon. Majorelle carried out the decoration of cafes and restaurants. In 1905 Majorelle furnished the house in Paris taken over by Samuel Bing. In 1916, a fire destroyed much of the designs, models and plans. After Alfred Levy joined as second director in 1918 and after Majorelle's death in 1926, the style of the workshop changed radically.

Objects by Louis Majorelle