Louis-Jean-Sylvestre Majorelle, more commonly known as Louis Majorelle, was a French artist, metalworker and Art Nouveau designer celebrated for his bedroom furniture, cabinets, chairs and decorative objects.
In 1877, Majorelle moved to Paris from the town of Nancy where he began his studies in painting under Jean-François Millet at the École de Beaux Arts. Following the death of his father, a furniture designer, he returned to Nancy and took over the family workshop. Parisian architect Henri Sauvage designed Majorelle’s house in Nancy, Villa Majorelle, which featured stained glass by Jacques Gruber.
In order to increase productivity and reduce costs — as well as shift the family business’s focus from reproductions of 18th-century furniture such as Louis XV chairs to instead working in the era’s Art Nouveau style — Majorelle integrated modern techniques and processes at his atelier (these changes were in part inspired by innovative glassmaker Emile Gallé).
The workshop became known for Majorelle’s distinctive designs and the pronounced craftsmanship of its offerings. There were tables made from mahogany and ormolu that featured handsome bronze mounts and marquetry, table lamps that shared common ground with the prized designs associated with Tiffany Studios, and decorative pieces that Majorelle produced in partnership with Daum, a revered manufacturer of French art glass.
The work was very much characterized by the botanical motifs and curvaceous silhouettes of Art Nouveau design, and the business was successful. Majorelle produced a range of items during the early 1900s and was a participant in the 1900 Paris Exposition as well as the Exposition de l'Ecole de Nancy in 1903.
In 1916, a devastating fire broke out in Majorelle’s factory on the rue du Vieil-Aître in Nancy. It destroyed all of the company’s awards, sketches, molds, equipment and archives of Majorelle’s work. In 1917, destruction again shook his business when his shop on the rue Saint-Georges was bombed by German aircraft. The designer marched on — he relocated to Paris where he shared a workspace and created vases and other vessels in the Art Deco style before he moved back to Nancy. Majorelle designed the Nancy Pavilion at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in 1925 with Alfred Lévy. He died in 1926.
Find antique Louis Majorelle cabinets, seating and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
$9,500 / set
French Art Nouveau Chairs by Louis Majorelle
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Bridgewater, CT
French Art Nouveau chairs by Louis Majorelle.
Wood
Pair French Salon Chairs Art Nouveau Gilt Fauteuils
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Absolutely stunning pair of French gilt arm chairs Perfect salon chairs and in the art nouveau style with floral motifs and a flowing style to the aesthetic Very comfortable with wid...
Wood
$25,542
H 32.29 in W 24.02 in D 20.87 in
Art Nouveau Klismos Chair by Sophy A. Christensen, Denmark, C. 1905
Located in Valby, 84
Chair of klismos form in figured birch, the broad rectangular back panel painted with a scene depicting a musician playing the aulos accompanied by a dancing female figure amid styli...
Birch, Paint
$1,393Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 37.01 in W 18.51 in D 20.48 in
Art Nouveau Walnut Chairs, Polished Finish, Reupholstered, c. 1900
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful pair of chairs from the Art Nouveau period in solid walnut wood. The chairs are reupholstered and covered with new fabric. In very good restored condition.
Walnut
$4,179
H 30.32 in W 20.87 in D 21.66 in
ART NOUVEAU CHAIR by THONET + JACOB & JOSEF KOHN WIENER WERKSTATTE Austria 1900
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional and extremely rare Model N°6009 chair with armrests, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, in dark brown bended & lacquered wood, with superb backrest and airy armrests in folded woo...
Wood
$2,643
H 36.23 in W 16.54 in D 11.82 in
French Solid Oak Transitional Chair, Constructivist & Art Nouveau Influence, 192
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional French solid oak chair dating to the 1920s that captures a rare and fascinating stylistic transition. This piece embodies a striking dialogue between the waning organi...
Wood, Oak
$18,000 / set
H 46 in W 24 in D 22 in
Set of Ten Louis Majorelle Art Nouveau Dining Chairs, Circa 1900
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Astoria, NY
Set of Ten Louis Majorelle Art Nouveau Mohair Covered Mahogany Dining Chairs, circa 1900, comprising: two armchairs and eight side chairs, unsigned. Armchairs: 46" H x 24" W x 22" D;...
Mohair, Mahogany
$6,385 / set
H 32.68 in W 14.97 in D 16.54 in
Pair of Art Nouveau Side Chairs by Thorvald Bindesbøll, Denmark, C. 1890
By Thorvald Bindesbøll
Located in Valby, 84
A pair of side chairs in oak, each with an upholstered back panel with rope-twist border detail flanked by turned uprights with urn finials, the upholstered seat above a plain frieze...
Wool, Oak
Art Nouveau Side Chair Designed by Thonet, Austria, 1910
By Thonet
Located in Antwerp, BE
Classic collectible chair by famous German-Austrian cabinetmaker Michael Thonet. Bentwood frame with hooped legs. The seat is embossed with a decorative floral motif.
Bentwood
$2,089
H 35.04 in W 17.33 in D 18.51 in
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Carved Mahogany Chair, Leatherette Seat
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Early 20th century French Art Nouveau carved mahogany chair with leatherette tobacco color seat with springs. Restored and polished to wax. Precious chair also for a modern desk. P...
Leather, Mahogany
Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty Chair, 1900, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Chair Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty Material: Wood Country:France We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982.If you have any questi...
Wood
Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty Chair, 1900, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Chair Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty Material: Wood Country:France We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982.If you have any questi...
Wood
Louis Majorelle French Art Nouveau Armchair
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau walnut armchair by Louis Majorelle, featuring sinuously curved arms and legs. The top of the chair is decorated with an intricately carved floral motif. It is up...
Upholstery, Walnut
French Art Nouveau 'Poppy' Chair by Louis Majorelle
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Astoria, NY
An antique French Art Nouveau chair, designed and manufactured by Louis Majorelle, circa 1890-1910, in beautifully detailed hand-carved wood frame, with twisted uprights, terminating...
Textile, Wood
Louis Majorelle Pair of French Art Nouveau Armchairs
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French Art Nouveau carved walnut wood armchairs in the manner of Louis Majorelle. Each chair is upholstered in green cotton velvet fabric.