Endeavoring to create exquisite work that would endure forever, designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann defined the grandeur of the French Art Deco movement of the 1920s. His luxurious storage cabinets, seating, other furniture and interiors garnered considerable popularity alongside the growth in post–World War I Paris’s population of newly wealthy residents.
The Paris-born Ruhlmann was the son of a decorating contractor, a business he took over in the early 1900s and expanded into furniture and interior design. But by the end of his career, he was best known for being a skilled ensemblier, a term for a designer who not only makes furniture and decorates spaces but rather personally crafts each and every piece required in the space, from doorknobs to sofas. This practice ensured that the space was harmonious and consistent with Ruhlmann’s vision, and it contributed to the lasting popularity of his designs.
Ruhlmann enjoyed the patronage of the newly affluent and was encouraged by the popularity of Art Deco. While the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements were early influences, he is renowned for the modernity of his Art Deco–era designs, which reflected the celebratory nature of the times, including an integration of opulent flourishes; luxurious materials like Macassar ebony, amboyna burl, ivory and precious metals; and skilled craftsmanship and construction techniques.
Renowned all over the world, Ruhlmann was commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to design a cabinet in 1925, embellishing its curved door with a sophisticated floral motif by way of an ornate marriage of wood and ivory veneer. Also in 1925, at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, arguably the exhibition that introduced Art Deco on an international level, his pavilion was the most popular.
By the time the economic depression of the 1930s materialized, Ruhlmann’s exorbitantly expensive designs were no longer viable. But the majesty and elegance of the ’20s remain an important part of design history, and Ruhlmann has been described as “perhaps its finest exponent.”
Find a collection of authentic Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann furniture on 1stDibs.
Secretary / Bookcase Cabinet by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
A Macassar ebony Secretary / Bookcase cabinet with a rectangular stepped top above an open recess and a fall front enclosing a fitted interior, flanked by cupboard doors enclosing sh...
Macassar, Ebony
Ruhlmann Important 'Bibol' Burl Oak Veneer Cabinet
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Berlin, DE
Important ‘Bibol’ Cabinet in Burl veneer on oak structure with ivory details. This display cabinet has two solid side doors, one glass door, and three drawers in the lower part. It h...
Ivory, Glass, Oak
Ruhlmann 'Argentier Spécial Berger' Indian Rosewood Cabinet
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Berlin, DE
Special Berger Cabinet in Indian Rosewood. With two sliding doors and glass shelves, framed in silvered bronze; interior in oak; six fluted “olive” feet in silvered bronze; silvered ...
Bronze
Ruhlmann 'Rebours' Model African Mahogany Displac Cabinet
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Berlin, DE
A display cabinet model 'Rebours' in African mahogany and African mahogany veneer. The case is in silvered bronze and rests on a base with a drawer; the rectangular base is covered i...
Bronze
Art Deco Sideboard / Cabinet by Jacques Émile Ruhlmann
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Miami, FL
A rare and fully documented oak sideboard by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann (1879–1933), one of the most celebrated names in French Art Deco design. This example was produced in 1930 for the...
Oak
$3,281
H 47.64 in W 33.08 in D 14.97 in
1940s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Walnut Burl Veneer Wood Bar Cabinet
By Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful 1940s Italian Art Deco bar cabinet in great wood veneer, three front doors, standing on waterfall legs giving elegance and importance. Once you open the top door two drawer...
Brass
$3,380
H 51.38 in W 51.19 in D 16.34 in
Danish Modern, Sclulptural Classic Cabinet in Oak and Burl Wood Veneer, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
A refined Dansih cabinet crafted in oak with decorative burl wood veneer panels, dating to the 1940s-1950s. The facade features four geometrically framed panels with beautifully figu...
Oak, Burl, Birch
ART DECO Curio Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
ART DECO Curio Cabinet 34”x12”x48”
Glass, Walnut
$145,000
H 36.5 in W 56.25 in D 23.25 in
French Art Deco Commode by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, 20th Century
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco burled amboyna wood two door commode with bronze trim detailing with diamond design brass pencil line inlay. (Rasson model) (signed: EMILE-JACQUES RUHLMANN) Note: Ivo...
Brass, Bronze
$4,101
H 36.23 in W 34.65 in D 13 in
1950s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Walnut Mirror Mosaic Sideboard Bar Cabinet
By Gio Ponti, Vittorio Dassi
Located in Carimate, Como
Impressive 1950s Italian cocktail liquor bar cabinet in beautiful wood with inlay decorated two front doors and standing on greatly decorative shaped legs. Once you open the two door...
Brass
$4,453
H 45.67 in W 36.62 in D 14.18 in
1950s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Mirror Mosaic Sideboard Bar Cabinet
By Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti
Located in Carimate, Como
Impressive 1950s Italian sideboard bar cabinet in beautiful burl veneer wood, two front doors and standing on greatly decorative carved legs. Once you open the two doors the interior...
Brass
Mahogany Ball and Claw Curio Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
Ball and Claw Cabinet 34”x12x”x48”
Glass, Walnut
$1,406
H 55.12 in W 33.47 in D 22.05 in
Danish Mid-Century Rosewood Corner Cabinet / Bar Cabinet, 1960s
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Elegant Danish corner cabinet from the 1960s crafted in richly grained rosewood. Features beautiful leaded dark glass and generous storage space inside. A stylish and functional piec...
Rosewood
Art Deco Display Cabinet in Rosewood
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
ART DECO DISPLAY CABINET A French Art Deco display cabinet with open section to the top with glass shelves and a lower pair of lockable doors, excellent quality carefully restored a...
Rosewood
1930s French Mahogany Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning mahogany cabinet from France, 1930s. Beautiful carved wood cabinet with bookmatch detail. Two doors open to original adjustable shelving with one drawer for additional stora...
Wood
$3,515
H 18.71 in W 31.3 in D 17.72 in
Belgian Art Deco Cabinet in Burl Veneer with Marble and Glass, circa 1930
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Belgium / 1930 / Cabinet / Burl veneer, marble and glass / Art Deco A sophisticated embodiment of Belgian Art Deco design, this cabinet from circa 1930 showcases the era’s signature...
Marble
$10,400 / item
H 86 in W 67 in D 18.25 in
Mahogany Georgian Style Four Door Bookcase China Cabinet by Leighton Hall
By Leighton Hall Furniture
Located in Suwanee, GA
This a traditional mahogany breakfront bookcase or china cabinet with four doors by Leighton Hall. It features four bottom doors with swirly crotch mahogany fields and straight grain mahogany borders. The top four doors feature grills with individually paned glass. The drawers are masterfully dovetailed and the drawer boxes are made of oak. The hardware is solid brass. The cabinet has dimmable lighting and mortised door locks. Each section has multiple adjustable 3/8 in. glass shelves. It has a hand rubbed satin finish. This cabinet is an excellent compliment to our custom mahogany dining tables...
Mahogany
Art Deco Sideboard / Cabinet by Jacques Émile Ruhlmann
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Miami, FL
A Stained Oak Cabinet that features 2 doors concealing 2 locking drawers and one adjustable shelf. There are Shelves on each side of the cabinet. This piece came from La Cité Univer...
Oak
Art Deco Sideboard / Cabinet by Jacques Émile Ruhlmann
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Miami, FL
A Stained Oak Cabinet that features 2 doors concealing 2 locking drawers and one adjustable shelf. There are Shelves on each side of the cabinet. This piece came from La Cité Univer...
Oak
Sold
H 74.02 in W 30.32 in D 16.93 in
Art Deco French E.J Ruhlmann Bookcase, Hardwood, Brass and Lemongrass
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind refined bookcase by E.J Ruhlman workshop French Art Deco, in an refined hardwood and lemon wood in the interior, brass to frame and embellish. It has one door on the to...
Brass
Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann Art Deco Cabinet
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
This vintage cabinet was designed by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. It is crafted from dark ebonized wood that houses spacious shelves and drawers behind doors.
Wood