The story of Art Deco is incomplete without the contributions of Paule Leleu. The daughter of celebrated French designer Jules Leleu, Paule carved out her niche in designing beautiful Western European rugs. A rich use of color and bold geometric patterns made Leleu’s rugs a quintessential representation of Art Deco style.
Leleu was born in 1906 into a family with a love of design. Her grandfather operated a painting business in Paris, which her father and uncle transformed into an interior design company. They grew it into an influential design studio, which was among the first to pivot to Art Deco when it became popular after World War I. The Leleu design studio won the top prize at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts.
French designer Ivan da Silva Bruhns initially helmed the rug department of the Leleu firm. When he left the company in 1936, Paule Leleu took over. She expanded on da Silva Bruhns’s success and soon produced many award-winning designs.
Leleu instilled the Art Deco style into her hand-knotted rugs that featured simple linear motifs and decorative flourishes. In the 1940s, she began using floral patterns. Leleu always created her designs with her family company’s furniture in mind. Like that furniture, her later carpets also tended towards the minimalism of mid-century modern style.
Across her career as the chief rug designer at the Leleu design house, Paule Leleu is credited with more than 500 rug designs. The stunning statement pieces remain classics for today’s homes.
On 1stDibs, find Paule Leleu rugs and carpets as well as other home accents.
Doris Leslie Blau Vintage French Art Deco Rug by Paule Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
Vintage French Art Deco Rug by Paule Leleu Size: 6'10" × 11'7" (208 × 353 cm) An exceptional example of post-war French textile design, this vintage rug by Paule Leleu—daughter of th...
Wool
Doris Leslie Blau French Art Deco Vintage Geometric Sage Rug By Paule Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional vintage French Art Deco carpet, circa 1920s, designed by Paule Leleu, daughter of renowned French designer Jules Leleu and an accomplished artist in her own right. Thi...
Wool
French Mid-Century Modern Rug Signed Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in Milan, IT
Paule Leleu (1906-1987) was one of the most celebrated carpet designers of 20th century France. Daughter of Jules Leleu, a prolific furniture designer and interior decorator of the A...
Wool
Paule Leleu, Pair of Carpets with Aztec-Inspired Motifs, France, 1957
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The daughter of Jules Leleu, Paule joined the family company at a young age. Over time she became the firm's colorist and the head of the design studio, where she oversaw the textile...
Wool
Paule Leleu, Rectangular Carpet with Geometric Motif, France, 1957
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The daughter of Jules Leleu, Paule joined the family company at a young age. Over time she became the firm's colorist and the head of the design studio, where she oversaw the textile...
Wool
$15,000
Circular Savonnerie Carpet
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
Circular Savonnerie by Paule Leleu. France, circa 1930.
Wool
Paule Leleu, Round Center Carpet with Geometric Trim, France, 1957
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The daughter of Jules Leleu, Paule joined the family company at a young age. Over time she became the firm's colorist and the head of the design studio, where she oversaw the textile...
Wool
Rug Art Deco, circa 1950 signed by Jules Leleu company – Diameter 2.45m -N° 1625
By Maison Leleu, Paule Leleu
Located in Paris, FR
Rug signed by the Jules Leleu company – Art Deco, circa 1950 – Diameter 2.45m – No. 1625 Artist: Maison Jules Leleu Period: 20th century Style: Art Deco Condition: Excellent Materia...
Wool
$17,407Sale Price|57% Off
Midcentury carpet signed by Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Midcentury carpet signed by Leleu. The marks on the carpet are from a table standing on it.
Wool
Celadon Green French Art Deco Minimalist Rug
Located in Milan, IT
An elegant French Art Deco carpet characterized by an unusual celadon green background, interrupted at about three quarters of its length by an horizontal motif in chocolate brown. T...
Wool
Portuguese Needlepoint Wool Carpet from Stark in Floral Motif
Located in Locust Valley, NY
Floral and scroll design wool needlepoint carpet from Portugal, made by Stark, with a coral border surrounding flowers and leaves on an antique white ground.
Wool
Mid-Century Modern Abstract Rug, 1970s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Abstract Rug, 1970s
Wool
French Art Deco Rug in the Style of Jules Leleu
By Maurice Dufrêne, André Arbus, Andre Domin & Marcel Genevriere for Maison Dominique, Paul Follot, Jules Leleu
Located in Houston, TX
Colorful French Art Deco carpet/modernist carpet with great geometric design and fantastic colors (cream, black, lavender, purple, blue, and green.) This great French Art Deco geometric rug...
Wool
Vintage French Art Deco Rug. Size: 8 ft 4 in x 13 ft
Located in New York, NY
A beautifully artistic black and cream colored flat-woven vintage French Art Deco rug, country of origin / rug type: French rugs, circa date: vintage mid-20th century. Size: 8 ft 4 i...
Wool
Large mid century French Cogolin rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Beautiful mid century French Cogolin rug with a nice decorative and simple design, with a white pile of design on the orange foundation, hand made by wool on wool foundation Damage...
Wool
$18,450
W 151 in L 198 in
Antique French Aubusson Carpet with Romantic Motifs and Delicate Color Palette
Located in Atlanta, GA
Antique French Aubusson Carpet with Romantic Motifs and Delicate Color Palette. Antique Large French Aubusson Carpet with Romantic Motifs and Delicate Color Palette. This elegant ant...
Wool
Signed Leleu Vintage French Art Deco Circle Rug with Medallion - Rug & Kilim
Located in Long Island City, NY
Made with hand-knotted wool in France circa 1950, this 6x6 vintage French Art Deco rug is an extremely collectible mid-century circle rug from Leleu Decorateur—the work of an iconic ...
Wool
French Art Deco Narrow Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Characterized by a floppy handle and a relatively coarse weave, rugs such as these are referred by European scholars as 'travail domestique', meaning that they are home craft products inspired by popular patterns. This extremely narrow rug...
Wool
Original Modernist colorful Carpet with Bold Geometric Design
Located in New York City, NY
Abstract bold patterned geometric, vintage carpet in colorful shades of russet, greens, ochres, gold, browns. Square and rectangular overlays and color blocking represented on this M...
Wool, Yarn
French Art Deco Carpet by Leleu
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Good quality French carpet from the 40's or 50's
Wool
$88,600
W 210 in L 236 in
1870s Multi Geometric French Needlepoint Carpet 17'6"x19' Flatweave Wool Rug
Located in New York, NY
This mosaic floor pattern wool needlepoint carpet was clearly a special commission for a high-level Roman Catholic ecclesiastic, bishop and then archbishop / cardinal as indicated by the hats with tassels in the corners, each surmounting a shield of arms...
Wool
French Art Deco Floral Red, Yellow, Taupe, Green Handmade Wool Runner
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
French Art Deco floral, red, yellow, taupe and green handmade wool runner Size: 4'2" × 15'2" (127 × 462 cm). A French deco vintage rug runner designed by Paule Leleu for the house ...
Wool
Midcentury French Art Deco Handmade Rug by Paule Leleu at Doris Leslie Blau
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th century French Art Deco white, brown, green handmade wool rug by Paule Leleu at Doris Leslie Blau Size: 12'0" × 15'3" (366 × 465 cm) A French Deco rug designed by Paule Lele...
Wool
Sold
W 118 in L 172 in
Mid-20th century French Paule Leleu Beige, Green, Burgundy Hand Knotted Wool Rug
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th century French Paule Leleu Beige, Green, Burgundy Hand Knotted Wool Rug Size: 9'10" × 14'4" (299 × 436 cm). The perfect condition in which the French rug remains is the best...
Wool
Green Vintage French Deco Rug by Paule Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
Green vintage French deco rug by Paule Leleu Size: 6'8" x 16'3" (203 x 495 cm).
Wool
Mid-20th Century French Deco Rug by Paule Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This vintage handwoven French Deco rug has an ivory field with a radiating central star medallion issuing spyrographic lozenges, in an elegant tonal ivory garland border, plain outer...
Wool
Paule Leleu, Model No. 853 Fine Interior Carpet, France, circa 1960
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The daughter of Jules Leleu, Paule joined the family company at a young age. Over time she became the firm's colorist and the head of the design studio, where she oversaw the textile...
Wool
Gorgeous French Art Deco Rug by Leleu 48257
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
The smart design sense and eye for color that blessed the Leleu family is the firm’s lasting legacy. Even over fifty years later, the carpets and rugs created by Paule Leleu look ele...
Wool
Mid-20th Century French Deco Rug by Paule Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This vintage handwoven French Deco rug has an ivory field with a radiating central star medallion issuing spyrographic lozenges, in an elegant tonal ivory garland border, plain outer...
Wool
Mid-20th Century Handmade French Moderne Accent Rug by Leleu
By Paule Leleu, Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
A vintage French Moderne accent carpet handmade during the mid-20th century and designed by Leleu.
Wool
French Deco Rug by Paule Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
Hand woven pile rug by Paule Leleu, daughter of the art deco French sculptor and furniture designer Jules Leleu. It features repeating geometric motifs in red, green and yellow on a ...
Wool
A French Deco Rug Designed by Paule Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
A French Deco Rug Designed by Paule Leleu. Signed lower right corner.Rows of Dark Green Rectangles on a soft medium green field with red and Ivory accent colors creating a pattern of...
Wool
A French Deco Rug Designed By Paule Leleu (Signed Leleu)
By Paule Leleu
Located in New York, NY
A French Deco rug designed by Paule Leleu (1906-87), the daughter of the French sculptor and designer, Jules Leleu, who took over as chief rug designer afte...
Wool