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.
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
Secretary Cabinet by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
A Macassar ebony secretaire side cabinet with a rectangular stepped top above an open recess and a fall front enclosing a fitted interior, flan...
Macassar
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
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
$2,904
H 27.96 in W 29.53 in D 14.97 in
1950s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Walnut Burl Veneer Mirror Mosaic Bar Cabinet
By Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful 1950s Italian Art Deco bar cabinet in great wood veneer front double doors standing on four classic legs giving elegance and importance. Once you open the two doors the ful...
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
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Marble, Ormolu
French Art Deco Display cabinet in Rosewood
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
ART DECO DISPLAY CABINET A French Art Deco display cabinet ( vitrine ) in rosewood produced in c1925 and very much in the manner of Maison Dominique, the cabinet has a bronze framed...
Rosewood
Mahogany Ball and Claw Curio Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
Ball and Claw Cabinet 34”x12x”x48”
Glass, Walnut
$6,971Sale Price|20% Off
H 62.21 in W 44.1 in D 23.23 in
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining
Located in Opole, PL
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining We present you this piece of furniture with three drawers at the bottom, a drop front, and a narrow drawer und...
Baize, Mahogany
Renaissance Revival Carved Tiger Oak Cabinet w/ Walnut Burl Panels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Tiger Oak, Walnut Burl Wood This substantial Renaissance Revival cabinet showcases beautifully carved tiger oak, elevated by richly ...
Oak, Walnut
$12,500Sale Price|47% Off
H 78 in W 47.5 in D 20 in
Superb 19th Century Anglo Indian Rosewood Cabinet, Intricate Bone & Ebony Inlay
Located in Miami, FL
Superb 19th Century Anglo Indian Rosewood Cabinet, Intricate Bone & Ebony Inlay Offered for sale is a superb and finely carved and inlaid 19th century Anglo Indian rosewood cabi...
Bone, Ebony, 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
Jules Leleu mahogany cabinet nickeled metal 1930
By Jules Leleu
Located in Paris, IDF
This very fine Art Deco cabinet was created in the 1930s by Jules Leleu, with flamed mahogany veneer and a nickeled metal base, and bears the workshop stamp. The piece perfectly illu...
Metal
A Rare Fine French Art Deco Rosewood Collector Cabinet
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine French Art Deco rosewood collector cabinet with front and lateral doors. Might be used as a bar, TV cabinet, bookcase or petite armoire.
Rosewood
$3,479
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
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