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.
Large Four-Door Commode by Jules Leleu, Marquetry by Messager, circa 1948
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jules Leleu (1883-1961) - "Vol de Papillons parmi des Fleurs Champêtres"(Flight of Butterflies among Country Flowers) - A Fine French Art Deco four-door rosewood sideboard, with ebon...
Bronze
Fine Art Deco Sideboard by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Jules Leleu (1883-1961). An important rosewood cabinet, decorated with a spray of inlay mother-of-pearl flowers and butterflies, legs with gilded bronze sabots. With the original ...
Bronze
Important French Art Deco Sideboard by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
A superb rosewood three-door cabinet by Jules LeLeu with gilt bronze ornaments. The side doors opening to drawers and an adjustable shelved interior. The central door opening to an a...
Bronze
Important French Bronze Walnut Parquetry & Mother of Pearl Credenza, Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Queens, NY
French Mid-Century light walnut 2 door credenza / commode with inlaid sqaure parquetry and mother of pearl design with gilt bronze trim with column sides and a stepped up top (JULES ...
Walnut
A Fine French Art Deco Walnut Music Cabinet or Sideboard by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
With two pairs of doors opening to four vinyl record storage compartments, a center drop front opens to receive a turntable and a center speaker compartment; center panel ornamented ...
Bronze
French Art Deco Rosewood Sideboard by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
A fine rosewood two-door cabinet by Jules LeLeu with gilt bronze ornaments designed by Debarre and chiseled by Perret. Two doors opening to reveal a drawers and shelved interior. Sta...
Bronze
Jules Leleu , very large and elegant sycamore art deco sideboard circa 1935
By Jules Leleu
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Jules Leleu ,very large and elegant sycamore art deco sideboard circa 1935
Bronze
French Art Deco Ebony de Macassar Marquetry and Bronze Mounted Credenza, J Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco Ebony de Macassar sideboard with 2 front doors have a centered floral marquetry design and gilt bronze trim on legs and stepped up top (JULES LELEU)
Bronze
Jules Leleu, Walnut Sideboard with Three Diamond Marquetry Design Doors
By Jules Leleu
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Jules Leleu. Veneer walnut sideboard with three diamond marquetry design doors. Central bronze ornament; signed.
Bronze
Jules Leleu French Rosewood Diamond Marquetry Art Deco Sideboard, 1940's
By Jules Leleu
Located in Sofia, BG
Jules Leleu French rosewood diamond Marquetry Art Deco sideboard, 1940's This French Art Deco sideboard originates from the 1940s, It was produced by ...
Rosewood
French Art Deco 1930's Rosewood Sideboard Sign By Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Carmine, TX
Masterpiece French art deco sideboard sign by Jules Leleu 1930s with extensive wood each side of this piece features a cabinet that opens to storage with a single internal shelf. The...
Bronze
1950s Sideboard By Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Charmes, FR
Large sideboard by Jules Leleu, made in the 1950s in rosewood veneer and mother-of-pearl marquetry, signed on the side with the J.LELEU stamp, gilt bronze feet
Wood
$484,500Sale Price|35% Off
H 36 in W 71 in D 27 in
Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted & Marquetry Commode - François Linke Leon Messagé
By François Linke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French Louis XV style ormolu-mounted and end-cut floral and fruit marquetry two-drawer serpentine-shaped bombé commode by François Linke (1855-1946), Index number 720, the mounts d...
Ormolu
Maurice Dufrene French Art Deco Mahogany Sideboard Cabinet
By Maurice Dufrêne
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco mahogany sideboard cabinet with 4 glass front doors and inlaid trim edge under a marble top with 4 tapered fluted ebonized ...
Marble
$75,000
H 36 in W 71 in D 19 in
Jules Leleu (1883-1961) Floral Mother of Pearl and Ebony Inlay Sideboard 1939
By Jules Leleu
Located in CA, CA
Jules Leleu (1883-1961) sideboard In Macassar ebony veneer, opening with two doors. Inlaid decoration of butterflies, flowers and foliage in mother-of-pearl and ebony. Curved upright...
Mother-of-Pearl
French Art Deco Credenza After Jules Leleu
By Jacques Adnet, Dominique, André Arbus, Andre Sornay, Jules Leleu
Located in Houston, TX
French Art Deco Credenza After Jules Leleu. This lovely French Art Deco credenza has a beautifully decorated geometric pattern to it with three doors, three drawers with shelves. Our French Deco credenza...
Sycamore
French Art Deco Six-Door Buffet in the Style of Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in North Bergen, NJ
Gorgeous French Art Deco six-door buffet in the style of Jules Leleu. With beautiful Rosewood and mother-of-pearl inlay along with stunning marquetry. The middle doors open to reveal...
Mahogany
$3,607Sale Price|33% Off
H 38.59 in W 70.87 in D 19.69 in
Vintage Jules Leleu Style Mahogany Credenza with Bronze Elements
By Jules Leleu
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Art Deco sideboard in mahogany in the Jules Leleu style. Features 2 medallion handles with a two-tailed mermaid figure, 2 side knobs and gilt bronze hinges. On the recessed top a sla...
Bronze
$24,950Sale Price|47% Off
H 37 in W 63 in D 27 in
French 19th-20th century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Marquetry Commode
By François Linke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style gilt bronze-mounted kingwood, amaranth, satinwood and Tulipwood Bois Satiné and Bois de Bout Floral Marquetry Two-Drawer Commode of bom...
Marble, Bronze
Fine Art Deco Sideboard Designed by Christian Krass
By Christian Krass
Located in New York, NY
A fine and elegant Art Deco sideboard designed by Christian Krass.
Giltwood, Oak
$4,495
H 32 in W 72 in D 19 in
Charles Pfister for Baker Primavera Art Deco Sideboard Credenza or Bar Cabinet
By Baker Furniture Company, Charles Pfister
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and gorgeous modern Art Deco sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Charles Pfister for Baker Furniture USA, 1980s Primavera (white mahogany) wood, with parquetry inl...
Brass
$6,320Sale Price|20% Off
H 39 in W 76 in D 19.25 in
French Art Deco Rosewood Sideboard With Bar, 1940's
By Jules Leleu
Located in Culver City, CA
Step into an era of timeless elegance and sophistication with this stunning 1940s French Art Deco sideboard, a masterpiece that evokes the golden age of design and craftsmanship. Thi...
Rosewood
$100,000
H 35 in W 74.5 in D 19 in
French Art Deco Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Butterfly Buffet by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in North Bergen, NJ
Stunning French Art Deco credenza is designed by famous artisan Jules Leleu. It is comprised of mother-of-pearl inlay forming a butterfly motif with gold hardware, which accents the ...
Jules Leleu Attributed Art Deco French Sideboard
By Jules Leleu
Located in Bradenton, FL
A French Art Deco period sideboard attributed to Jules Leleu. Made of mahogany, it consists of four seperate pieces secured together with bolts. A central cabinet with a beveled frame has book matched cabinet doors decorated with an elaborately scrolled brass escutcheon. Inside are two hand dovetailed drawers above a single shelf. Serpentine cabinets on either side each house a serpentine curved shelf...
Brass
1940s French Art Deco Sideboard by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in High Point, NC
This refined 1940s French Art Deco sideboard by Jules Leleu exemplifies the elegant restraint and masterful craftsmanship for which the designer is celebrated. Constructed in richly ...
Wood
Jules Leleu Rosewood & Palmwood Sideboard with Inlay, 1940s
By Jules Leleu
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
A stunning and sophisticated Art Deco sideboard by renowned French designer Jules Leleu, crafted in rosewood and palmwood with intricate floral and butterfly inlay. Dating from the 1...
Rosewood, Palmwood
Sold
H 31.5 in W 65 in D 13.75 in
Jules Leleu, Three-door Cabinet with Mirrored Front, France, c. 1936
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
This modernist cabinet in violet wood retains its original central glass églomisé panel depicting lilies, a butterfly, and a fish, and rests on a chrome-plated metal base with curvin...
Metal
Sold
H 36.42 in W 74.8 in D 19.46 in
Jules Leleu, Feu d’Artifice, Fireworks Commode with Inlaid Front, France, 1938
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
An Art Deco ‘Feux d’artifice’ (Fireworks) mahogany and marquetry commode, inlaid with ebony and mother-of-pearl marquetry flowers. Slightly bowed in front, it boasts a stepped top ov...
Bronze
French Art Deco Sideboard by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
ART DECO SIDEBOARD BY JULES LELEU A French Art Deco sideboard produced by Jules Leleu around the 1940 in straight grain walnut with parquetry and segmented inlay highlighted with mot...
Walnut
Fine French Art Deco Rosewood sideboard by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jules Leleu (1883 – 1961) A fine French 1930s four doors rosewood buffet with gilded bronze details. Interiors with shelves and drawers. Signed Overall depth with handles is 21"
Metal
Blond Ash Jules Leleu Credenza, France, 1940s
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
1940's French credenza designed by Jules Leleu. Two front doors with signature bronze escutcheon depicting Adam and Eve at key closure. Two sets of three drawers, on either end of credenza. Blonde ash...
Wood, Ash
Sold
H 37.41 in W 86.62 in D 19.69 in
Jules Leleu 3 Door Walnut Sideboard With Diamond Parquetry Detail
By Jules Leleu
Located in London, GB
A beautiful sideboard designed by Jules Leleu. This piece still retains the original paper label on the back, stating the serial number, it's signed and dated 1956. This piece ha...
Bronze
Sold
H 36.25 in W 73 in D 19.75 in
Rare Jules Leleu Art Deco Palisander and Marquetry Mother of Pearl Sideboard
By Jules Leleu
Located in Benington, Herts
A rare Art Deco commode / sideboard by Jules Leleu in palisander wood with ebony and mother of pearl inlaid marquetry and bronze mounts, by Jules Leleu (1883-1961) model number 2873. French - Paris, circa 1939. A masterpiece of design and craftsmanship by the renowned Art Deco designer and influencer Jules Leleu. The shaped top over twin bowed and convex doors centre by a marquetry butterfly...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Palisander
Sold
H 39.77 in W 77.96 in D 20.08 in
Art Deco Sideboard Designed and Executed by J&M Leleu, Paris, 1930s
By Jules Leleu
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
An Art Deco sideboard designed and executed by J&M Leleu, Paris (Jules and Marcel Leleu atelier). Art Deco Complete, Alastair Duncan p.420 Palisander wo...
Marble
Walnut Parquetry Sideboard by Jules Leleu, c1950
By Jules Leleu
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
Walnut parquetry sideboard by Jules Leleu c1950 An exceptional quality four door sideboard designed and produced by Jules Leleu in the early 1950s in Paris France, the sideboard is ...
Walnut
French Art Deco Signed Jules Leleu Macassar Cabinet
By Jules Leleu
Located in Miami, FL
Rare and magnificent Art Deco Macassal inlaid cabinet. Front part inlaid with végétal design. Slightly curved front doors. Signed piece by Jules Leleu (1883-1961). Very excepti...
Macassar