The stark brutalist furniture and decor created by Jean Touret and Les Artisans de Marolles during the 20th century is ripe for a comeback, and it is today drawing the attention of galleries and collectors.
French artist Jean Touret was the founder of Les Artisans de Marolles, a group of furniture makers based in the Loire Valley in the postwar era. The rustic but exquisitely proportioned pieces they produced included benches made from gouged wood, a wrought-iron sconce in the form of a cockerel, three-legged stools with seats carved to hug the body and a series of exceptional credenzas whose doors were sculpted by Touret himself, with themes like the seven deadly sins and pastoral life.
Touret’s talents were not deployed only on tables and lighting. From the mid-1960s until shortly before his death, in 2004, he earned his living largely through ecclesiastical commissions, the most famous of which was the altarpiece at Notre-Dame de Paris. Installed in 1989 and destroyed in the fire that swept through the cathedral in 2019, the work consisted of a brass chest clad with bronze panels depicting the evangelists and the four great prophets.
More than anything, Touret was a sculptor, although a rather unsuccessful one during his lifetime. He rarely exhibited, sold next to nothing and was never able to afford a heated studio.
Touret was born in 1916 and largely brought up in Le Mans, in western France. He worked in the legal department of a local insurance company before fighting in World War II, during which he spent five years as a prisoner of war on the German–Czechoslovakian border. There, he had his first real contact with wood while being forced to work as a lumberjack. At the end of hostilities, he returned to France, settled in Marolles with his wife, Odile, and declared that he would become an artist (he had previously taken evening classes with a painter in Le Mans). In 1950, the manager of the Château de Chambord commissioned him to create a number of sculptures of deer and wild boars for the pavilions in the château’s park. That same year, Touret established Les Artisans de Marolles. For him, it was more a social venture than an artistic one. As industrialization expanded in postwar France, the village’s craftsmen found themselves in need of work.
The collective’s founding members were a basket maker, a potter, a blacksmith and a carpenter. The last, Émile Leroy, continued his work as a coffin maker while participating in the group. Touret acted as artistic director, imposing his aesthetic vision through direct discussions with the craftsmen in their workshops rather than through drawings. Over the years, the collective’s output was regularly exhibited in both the Marolles village hall and the more magnificent setting of the nearby Château Royal de Blois. Certain items were also stocked by the Primavera boutique in Paris, an offshoot of the department store Le Printemps.
To respond to the increasing demand, craftsmen from other villages were brought in, and as their numbers rose, so did tensions and disputes. Uninterested in ego management, Touret increasingly took a back seat, moving to a village on the other bank of the Loire in 1963 before officially quitting the following year. Although Atelier Maroles continued to exist until 1970, the aesthetic quality of its production took a marked turn for the worse.
Touret then stopped creating secular furniture altogether. In 1965, he met a young chaplain at the Sorbonne, Jean-Marie Lustiger, who went on to become not only his most indefatigable supporter but also a cardinal and the archbishop of Paris. It was Lustiger who initiated most of Touret’s commissions for the Church, whether monumental sculptures of Christ, liturgical furniture or the Notre-Dame de Paris altarpiece.
Until recently, Touret’s furniture and decor had been forgotten for decades. Its rediscovery is largely due to dealers like Benoist F. Drut, at Maison Gerard in New York, and Yves and Victor Gastou, in Paris, who were attracted to its elemental forms and handcrafted spirit. An exhibition in 2022 at the Galerie Gastou posthumously shed light on the work.
Find vintage Atelier Maroles furniture on 1stDibs.
Jean Touret Ateliers de Marolles Midcentury Rooster Table Lamp, Pair available
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
This striking French Mid-Century Modern table lamp was designed by Jean Touret for Ateliers de Marolles, France, circa 1950. Crafted from hand-hammered wrought iron, the lamp feature...
Wrought Iron
1950s Wrought Iron Rooster Chandelier by Jean Touret for Atelier Marolles
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning wrought iron rooster chandelier by Jean Touret for Atelier Marolles from France, 1950s. Iron chandelier with circular frame an...
Brass, Wrought Iron
1950 Ateliers Marolles Fire Screen in Wrought Iron
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wrought iron firewall from Ateliers Marolles, 1950. Beautiful handcrafted ironwork of animal nature representing Horses, Elephants, Girafe Work of ironwork carried out with the hand....
Wrought Iron
Jean Touret Room Divider in Wrought Iron for Atelier Marolles, France 1960's
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A room divider / screen by designer Jean Touret for his French company, Atelier Marolles, circa 1960's. This screen is made out of wrought iron and is decorated with a collection of...
Wrought Iron
French Brutalist Elm Dining Table Or Center Table By Atelier Marolles
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Houston, TX
French Brutalist Elm Dining Table Or Center Table By Atelier Marolles. Outstanding large French Brutalist table by Atelier Marolles. This large table can be used as a dining table, c...
Elm
Wrought Iron Animal Fire Screen by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Den Haag, NL
Wrought iron animal fire screen by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955. Very decorative and useful piece with dense mesh against the sparks.
Metal, Wrought Iron
1950, Wrought Iron Mirror Atelier Marolles & Jean Touret
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wrought-iron animal mirror by Atelier Marolles, France, 1950s. Composed of a wrought-iron frame with brown patina decorated with an animal bestiary inspired by the farmyard and the...
Wrought Iron
Mid-Century Modern Wrought Iron Room Divider by Jean Touret, 1950s
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Zevenaar, NL
This iconic room divider was created by the well-known french artist Jean Touret for Atelier des Marolles, who founded the workshop in France during the 1950s. The heavy hand-crafte...
Wrought Iron
Wrought Iron Fire Screen, African Animals by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Den Haag, NL
Wrought Iron Fire Screen, African Animals by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955. Very decorative and useful piece with dense mesh against the sparks.
Metal, Wrought Iron
Rare Tripod Stools by Jean Touret for Ateliers Marolles
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand gouged oak stools by Jean Touret for Ateliers Marolles. Made in France circa 1960s. Priced per item. Jean Touret moved to Pezay, a rural area near Marolles, in 1946. While ther...
Oak
Wrought Iron Animal Fire Screen by Atelier Marolles, France, 1950's
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Den Haag, NL
Wrought iron animal fire screen by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955. Very decorative and useful piece with dense mesh against the sparks.
Metal, Wrought Iron
French Wrought Iron Room Divider by Jean Touret for Atelier de Marolles, 1950s
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Chicago, IL
A sculptural three-panel room divider by French artist Jean Touret for Atelier de Marolles, France, circa 1950s. Hand-wrought in iron and inset with a menagerie of stylized animal si...
Wrought Iron
1950 Large pair of candlesticks by Jean Touret, Ateliers Marolles
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of five-branch wrought iron candlesticks by Jean Touret from the Marolles workshop, handmade in France in the 1950s. The candlesticks rest on four square feet that flare outwar...
Wrought Iron
Midcentury Wrought-Iron Chandelier by Jean Touret, Gothic Style
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
This striking French Mid-Century wrought-iron chandelier was created circa 1950 by Ateliers de Marolles, under the artistic direction of Jean Touret, in collaboration with master iro...
Wrought Iron
Scarce early chair by les artisans de Marolles
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Rare chaise par les artisans de Marolles taillé à la gouge en nid d’abeille
Oak
Metal Elephant Bookends by Ateliers Marolles, France, 1950s
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Den Haag, NL
Metal Elephant Bookends by Ateliers Marolles, France, 1950s Each stand: 20cmx16,5cmx8cm
Metal
Room Divider / Screen by Atelier Marolles, France, 1950s
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Brussels, BE
Room Divider / Screen by Atelier Marolles, France, 1950s
Iron
$5,800 / item
Stool by Atelier de Marolles, France, c. 1960
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in New York City, NY
Priced Individually; Two Available. Elm stool with tapered legs by Atelier Marolles; small stools with great character.
Wood, Elm
Jean Touret & The Artisans of Marolles Pair of Candle Sconces, France circa 1960
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in New York, NY
Stamped: Marolles Jean Touret moved to Pezay, a rural area near Marolles, in 1946. While there, he became highly conscious of the uncertainty that Industrial development would bri...
Oak
Artisans of Marolles, Rustic Red Oak Side Chair, France, Midcentury
By Atelier Marolles
Located in New York, NY
Stamped Jean Touret moved to Pezay, a rural area near Marolles, in 1946. While there, he became highly conscious of the uncertainty that Industrial development would bring to the ...
Oak
French Brutalist Elm Coffee Table by Atelier Marolles
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in Houston, TX
French Brutalist elm coffee table by Atelier Marolles. This handsome hand carved French elm rectangular coffee table or cocktail table is a stunning example of the craftsmen at the A...
Elm
Jean Touret Wrought Iron Candle Screen for Les Artisans de Marolles France 1950s
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large scale candle screen by designer Jean Touret for his French company, Les Artisans de Marolles. The piece is part of his early work from the 1950's. This screen is particula...
Wrought Iron
Jean Touret & the Artisans of Marolles Center Table, France, circa 1960
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in New York, NY
Stamped "Marolles." Edition of 20 Jean Touret moved to Pezay, a rural area near Marolles, in 1946. While there, he became highly conscious of the uncertainty that Industrial development would bring to the future of the local craftsmen. Believing strongly in the value of the artisan...
Elm
Elm and Iron Stool by Atelier Marolles, France, c. 1950
By Atelier Marolles
Located in New York City, NY
Hand carved elm stools with iron nails, designed and made in France by famed workshop Atelier Marolles, lead by Jean Touret. Six available.
Iron
Price Upon Request
French 1960s Dining Table by Jean Touret & the Artisans of Marolles
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jean Touret & the Artisans of Marolles - A fine mid-century rectangular dining table with a wrought iron base that supports a solid oak top adorned with wrought iron nails.
Wrought Iron
Jean Touret & The Artisans of Marolles, Rectangular Dining Table, circa 1960
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in New York, NY
Stamped "Marolles." Jean Touret moved to Pezay, a rural area near Marolles, in 1946. While there, he became highly conscious of the uncertainty that industrial development would bring to the future of the local craftsmen. Believing strongly in the value of the artisan...
Wrought Iron
Price Upon Request
Atelier Marolles Set of Four Chairs, circa 1950
By Atelier Marolles
Located in New York, NY
Atelier Marolles set of four chairs, circa 1950. Wood.
$6,475
H 29.75 in W 29.5 in D 10 in
Modernist Custom-Made Fire Screen in Brushed Brass with Iron Mesh Grill
Located in New York, NY
This stunning modernist fire screen was custom made by artisans in New York State. It features an austere square body in brushed brass, with rectangular feet in the same material and...
Brass
$3,668
H 67.33 in W 32.29 in D 14.18 in
Mid-Century Modern Wrought Iron Room Divider by Jean Touret, 1950s
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Zevenaar, NL
This iconic room divider was created by the well-known french artist Jean Touret for Atelier des Marolles, who founded the workshop in France during the 1950s. The heavy hand-crafte...
Wrought Iron
French Mid-Century Wrought Iron Chandelier, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Original Midcentury chandelier from France, 1950s. Body of solid wrought iron. Diameter 33" - 84 cm. Height fixture 35" - 89 cm.
Metal, Brass, Copper, Wrought Iron
$7,578Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.36 in W 34.26 in D 3.94 in
Bertil Vallien Rare Wrought Iron Fire Screen, circa 1960, Sweden
By Bertil Vallien
Located in Brussels, BE
Beautiful and rare Bertil Vallien wrought iron fire screen. Boda edition, circa 1960, Sweden. Rare piece on the market, very poetic and decorative object. Good original condition. He...
Wrought Iron
$3,157
H 31.11 in W 36.62 in D 9.45 in
Wrought Iron Fire Screen, African Animals by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Den Haag, NL
Wrought Iron Fire Screen, African Animals by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955. Very decorative and useful piece with dense mesh against the sparks.
Metal, Wrought Iron
$8,611
H 30.12 in W 54.14 in D 34.45 in
Dudouyt - Dining Table - Natural Oak - 1940 - French - Brutalist
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Presenting an exquisite extendable table attributed to the renowned French furniture designer, Charles Dudouyt. This versatile table features a unique design with screw legs, allowin...
Oak
1950 Italian Wrought Iron and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We have over 3000 antique sconces and over 1000 antique lights, if you need a specific pair of sconces or lights; use the contact dealer button to ask us, we might have it in our sto...
Iron
French Art Deco tambour screen room-divider
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Oakland, CA
French Art Deco tambour room divider / folding screen crafted of heart pine, can be coiled and shaped into multiple positions to fit the space as needed. Possibly Baumann et Fils, Me...
Pine
$938 / item
H 30.52 in Dm 15.75 in
Spanish Gilt Iron Table Lamp in the Taste of Les Artisans De Marolles C. 1960s
By Atelier Marolles
Located in London, GB
A run of seven gilt forged iron table lamps in the taste of Les Artisans de Marolles, with decorative fleur-de-lis detailing, three point base...
Iron
$3,215 / set
H 33.47 in W 16.15 in D 5.52 in
1950s Rare French Wrought Iron Fireplace Set with Sculptural Design
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Rare French wrought iron fireplace set dating from the 1950s, distinguished by an exceptionally graphic and sculptural design. The tall, slender construction, animated by two stylize...
Wrought Iron
$1,283 / set
H 36 in W 41 in D 10 in
Large Wrought Iron Fire Screen, With Fire Irons This is a very attractive piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large Wrought Iron Fire Screen, With Fire Irons This is a very attractive piece and unusually large, the wrought iron work is curvy with a fine mesh infill backing and on the back t...
Iron
1970s Sculptural Chrome Dining Or Center Table
By Pace Furniture Company
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Modern sleek and sculptural chrome 1970s tubular dining or center table. This table is simply stunning. The photographs really capture its beauty. Curved chrome supports reflect and ...
Chrome
Atelier Marolles Wrought Iron Animal Fire Screen 1950s
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Atelier Marolles fire screen, wrought iron, France, 1950s This fire screen was created by Atelier Marolles in France during the 1950s. Handcrafted in patinated wrought iron, the arc...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 67 in W 58 in D 1 in
French Wrought Iron Room Divider by Jean Touret for Atelier de Marolles, 1950s
By Atelier Marolles, Jean Touret
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible wrought iron three-panel animal room divider made by Jean Touret for Atelier de Marolles from France, 1950s. Unique decorative piece showcasing a grid of little ducks, roo...
Wrought Iron
1950 Ateliers Marolles Fire Screen in Wrought Iron
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wrought iron fire screen by Ateliers Marolles, 1950. Magnificent ironwork depicting farm animals and African animals, including chickens, horses, lions, elephants, and camels. Handc...
Wrought Iron
1950 Ateliers Marolles Fire Screen in Wrought Iron
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wrought iron fire screen from Ateliers Marolles, 1950. Magnificent handcrafted ironwork depicting farmyard animals such as ducks, cows, roosters, and pigs. Handmade ironwork. The re...
Wrought Iron
Atelier Marolles Wrought Iron Animal Fire Screen 1950s
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Benalmadena, ES
This wrought iron fire screen was produced by Atelier Marolles in France during the 1950s. The structure is composed entirely of hand-forged iron, featuring a rectangular frame suppo...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Wrought Iron Animal Fire Screen by Atelier Marolles, 1950s
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Benalmadena, ES
This fire screen is a work by Atelier Marolles, produced in France circa 1955. The piece is crafted entirely from hand-forged wrought iron. The central structure consists of a dense,...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 10 in W 5 in D 3.5 in
1950s Wrought Iron Bird Candelstick from Jean Touret , Atelier Marolles, France
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Pair of hand hammered wrought iron bird candelstick from Jean Touret for Les Ateliers Marolles , France 1950s . Measure 10 in. high by 5 in. wi...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 30.32 in W 36.23 in D 8.47 in
Wrought Iron Animal Fire Screen by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Den Haag, NL
Wrought iron animal fire screen by Atelier Marolles, France, 1955. Very decorative and useful piece with dense mesh against the sparks.
Metal, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 29.53 in W 23.63 in D 1.19 in
1950, Pair of wrought iron mirrors, Atelier Marolles & Jean Touret
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wrought-iron animal mirror by Atelier Marolles, France, 1950s. Composed of a wrought-iron frame with brown patina decorated with an animal bestiary inspired by the farmyard and the...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 67.33 in W 32.29 in D 14.18 in
Atelier des Marolles Touret screen roomdivider wrought iron with animals, 1950s
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Zevenaar, NL
This iconic room divider was created by the well-known french artist jean touret for atelier moralles, who founded the workshop in france during the 1950s. The heavy hand-crafted pi...
Wrought Iron
1950 Ateliers Marolles Fire Screen in Wrought Iron
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wrought-iron fire screen by Ateliers Marolles, 1950. Beautifully crafted ironwork with farmyard animals, figures representing pigs, dogs, cows, roosters, donkeys etc. .... Metalwork...
Wrought Iron
1950 Pair of Screens Atelier Marolles & Jean Touret
By Atelier Marolles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of wrought-iron screens with brown patina, designed by Jean Touret and made by the Atelier de Marolles, in good condition. The screen features a rectangular wrought-iron frame ...
Wrought Iron