A designer and ensemblier, Jules Leleu was one of the key authors of the Art Deco movement. While he did not win the fame of such contemporaries as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Jean-Michel Frank, Leleu had a longer career and was easily their peer in the conception of trim, refined furniture forms and in the use of the opulent materials — from lacquer and ivory to sharkskin and exotic woods — that were a keynote of haute Art Deco design.
Leleu was born into a family of artisans and decorators. Their firm, Maison Leleu, had existed since the 18th century and Jules would guide it through much of the 20th. (The business lasted until 1973, headed at the end by Jules's children.) He studied architecture, served as an aviator in World War I, and after the conflict took up design full-time.
Leleu presented work at the 1925 exposition in Paris that gave us the term Art Deco, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York purchased a burl amboyna wood commode by Leleu directly from the show.
As the desks, dining tables and other furniture on 1stDibs show, Leleu was a stickler for precision craft and preferred to let his materials do the talking — his furniture is generally spare and sleek; its presence is established by figuring (or patterning/graining) in the wood and the occasional marquetry medallion. He had a keen eye for currents in design and an adaptable sensibility.
Maison Leleu would embrace many of the starker forms of modernism after the 1940s, as well as new materials such as artificial lacquer and plastics (then considered cutting-edge rather than cheap). Jules Leleu is a guiding light of 20th-century modernism: a man whose work represents both a devotion to traditional handiwork and an appreciation for the next wave in design.
Find Jules Leleu tables, sideboards, dining chairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.
$9,800 / set
Leleu Art Deco Decorative Chairs
By Jules Leleu
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Pair of French Art Deco chairs, covered in shark skin with ivory like accents. Measures: Width 25", total height 23", seat height 18", depth 12".
Shagreen
Jules Leleu, Pair of Art Deco Side Chairs, France, 1925
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The house of Leleu rose to prominence in the 1920s during the Art Deco period, and became known for the ornate classicism of its richly refined furniture...
Macassar
Jules Leleu, Set of Three Art Deco Mahogany Side Chairs, France, C. 1930
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
Set of three side chairs by Jules Leleu in mahogany with gilt bronze sabots For an illustration of identical armchairs, see: Ensembles Mobiliers....
Bronze
Pair of Fine French Art Deco Mahogany Chairs by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jules Leleu- A pair of fine French 1940s mahogany chairs with intertwining curved wood backs Numbered: 21956 & 21957 For an illustration of a similar armchair, see Siriex, Francoise. The House of Leleu. New York: Hudson Hills...
Mahogany
Jules Leleu, Set of Four Art Deco Dining Chairs, France, circa 1947
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
These beautiful dining chairs rest on solid interconnected bases and possess charming, crisscrossing backs. For illustrations of this identical model, see: Ensembles Mobiliers. Vol...
Mahogany
Set of 8 Fine French 1930s Dining Chairs by Jules Leleu (Dining Table Available)
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jules Leleu - A set of eight fine French Art Deco palisander dining chairs with nickeled sabots. Some of them are stamped.
Palisander, Rosewood
Price Upon Request
Set of 10 Fine French Mid-Century Dining Chairs by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jules Leleu (1883 - 1961)- Rare set of 10 fine French Mid-Century dining chairs with a tubular lacquered metal frame and gilded brass feet. Signed
Metal, Brass
Set of 4 French Art Deco Dining Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 4 French Art Deco blackened wood dining chairs with a rosewood veneered back rest.
Wood
$5,097Sale Price / set|21% Off
H 32 in W 17.75 in D 20.5 in
Set of Four Ebonized Art Deco Dining Chairs by Jindřich Halabala, 1930
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Czech set of four black Art Deco dining room chairs made of hand crafted ebonized Wood designed Jindrich Halabala, in good condition. The side chairs are standing on four l...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Ebony
$8,000 / set
H 33.75 in W 20 in D 17 in
Set of Four English Regency Mahogany Dining Room Chairs, Circa 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
Set of four English Regency mahogany upholstered and brass tacked dining room chairs with floral reeded cross hatching and terminating on tapered squared legs with spade feet. Set co...
Brass
$3,362 / set
H 29.93 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
1920s Art Deco Side Chairs in Walnut, Original Sitting with Abstract Upholstery
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Mid-20th century Art Deco side chairs in walnut, with original sitting and futurism abstract upholstery. Very special and aesthetic effect. Excellent conditions, restored and wax-po...
Walnut, Fabric
Pair of French Art Deco Side Chairs
Located in North Bergen, NJ
Fabulous pair of mahogany French Art Deco side chairs from the 1930s. The mahogany legs, tapering rear legs and an elevated curved back. Th...
$4,083 / set
H 37.41 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Pair of French Art Nouveau Side Chairs in Solid Mahogany Sprig Seat Green Velvet
Located in Vigonza, Padua
1910s pair of French Art Nouveau side chairs in solid mahogany, original spring seat, green velvet upholstered, only wax-polished. The up...
Mahogany
$1,345Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33.08 in W 21.26 in D 16.93 in
Art Deco Curved Back Side Chair Set, France 1930's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Art Deco Design Curved Back Side Chair set of 2. Made in France, 1930's. Oak constructed chair with silk fabric on the seat and backrest, finished with metal studs. Rare chair set wi...
Silk, Oak
$3,000 / set
H 31.5 in W 16.63 in D 20 in
1930s French Art Deco Mahogany Side Chairs W/ Taupe Velvet - A Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
A beautiful pair of French Art Deco accent side chairs, sourced in Provence. This pair of French Art Deco side chairs reflects the streamlined elegance of the period. Crafted in maho...
Velvet, Mahogany
$3,000 / set
H 31.25 in W 16.75 in D 19.25 in
1930s French Art Deco Mahogany Side Chairs W/ Beige Velvet - A Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
A refined pair of French Art Deco side chairs, sourced in Provence, France. Crafted in mahogany, each chair features a rectangular backrest with a gentle curve and clean, linear prop...
Velvet, Mahogany
$1,561 / set
H 40.56 in W 18.51 in D 20.87 in
Pair of Original Art Deco Chairs, by Jules Leleu, Beech, France, 1920s
By Jules Leleu
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Designed by Jules Leleu, a French designer at the top of French 20th Century decoration who distinguished himself during the Art Deco style's renaissance. This item features classic...
Fabric, Wood, Leather, Beech, Lacquer
1930s French Art Deco Mahogany Side Chair W/ Cream Leather
Located in Astoria, NY
A beautiful French Art Deco accent side chair, sourced in Provence. This French Art Deco side chair reflects the streamlined elegance of the period. Crafted in mahogany, the chair fe...
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of Wrought Iron French Art Deco Chairs with Zebra Print
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exquisite pair of beautifully designed French Art Deco wrought iron Chairs upholstered in Zebra printed Cowhide. Use the pair as an ar...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Jules Leleu, Pair of Side Chairs, France, circa 1937
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The house of Leleu rose to prominence in the 1920s during the Art Déco period, and became known for the ornate classicism of its richly refined furniture and lavish interiors. In the...
Oak
Jules Leleu, Side Chair, France, circa 1928
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The house of Leleu rose to prominence in the 1920s during the Art Déco period, and became known for the ornate classicism of its richly refined furniture and lavish interiors. In the...
Mahogany
Jules Leleu, Set of Six Side Chairs, France, circa 1937
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The house of Leleu rose to prominence in the 1920s during the Art Déco period, and became known for the ornate classicism of its richly refined furniture and lavish interiors. In the...
Oak
Fine French Art Deco Mahogany Chair by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jules Leleu (1883 - 1961) A fine French Art Deco solid mahogany chair with gilded bronze sabots on front legs.
Mahogany
Set of 8 Jules Leleu French Art Deco Green Fabric Dining / Side Chairs
By Jules Leleu
Located in Queens, NY
SET of 8 French Art Deco dining chairs with green upholstered seat and back with shaped scroll legs having gilt brass sabots. (JULES LELEU)(PRICED AS SET) Condition: Good; Wear cons...
Fabric
Set of 8 Jules Leleu French Art Deco Green Fabric Dining / Side Chairs
By Jules Leleu
Located in Queens, NY
SET of 8 French Art Deco dining chairs with green upholstery and with scroll legs with gilt brass sabots. (JULES LELEU)(PRICED AS SET)
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Jules Leleu, Pair of Side Chairs, France, circa 1928
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The house of Leleu rose to prominence in the 1920s during the Art Déco period, and became known for the ornate classicism of its richly refined furniture and lavish interiors. In the...
Mahogany
Sold
H 31.5 in W 18 in D 20 in
Jules Leleu Pair of Art Deco Side Chairs in Green Sateen 1950s 'Each Numbered'
By Jules Leleu
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of Art Deco side chairs in mahogany newly upholstered green sateen with brass sabots by Jules Leleu, France 1950's (numbered on upper legs “15467” and “15468”). These beautifull...
Brass
Sold
H 31.11 in W 18.51 in D 22.05 in
Pair of Fine French Art Deco Mahogany Side Chairs by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of fine French Art Deco mahogany side chairs by Jules Leleu. Stamped.
Mahogany
Jules Leleu, Art Deco Side Chair, France, 1925
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
A lacquered walnut side chair designed by Jules Leleu with an elegant, tall back covered in a round upholstered cushion, and beautifully carved, tapered legs.
Walnut
Leleu Art Deco Decorative Chairs
By Jules Leleu
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Pair of French Art Deco chairs, covered in shark skin with ivory like accents. Measures: Width 25", total height 23", seat height 18", depth 12".
Shagreen
Pair of French Art Deco Side Chairs by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of French Art Deco rosewood dining or side chairs by Jules Leleu.