Maison Leleu, Fine Three-Seat Midcentury Sofa, France, circa 1960
View Similar Items
Maison Leleu, Fine Three-Seat Midcentury Sofa, France, circa 1960
About the Item
- Creator:Maison Leleu (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 74 in (187.96 cm)Depth: 30 in (76.2 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: LELEU 281A1stDibs: LU781317934992
Maison Leleu
Jules Leleu founded Maison Leleu with his brother Marcel in Paris in 1910. The firm specialized in interior design projects and furnishings created in the era’s luxurious Art Deco style for residential and commercial spaces around the world. There were plush sofas, sleek walnut cabinets that featured marquetry and brass door pulls, and stately coffee tables with bases that terminated with substantial bronze sabots.
A designer and ensemblier, Jules 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 opulent materials — from lacquer and ivory to sharkskin and exotic woods — that were keynotes of haute Art Deco design.
Marcel and Jules’s clientele included President Eisenhower, the Ecuadorian ambassador to France and Prince Pierre of Monaco, who favored Maison Leleu’s Directoire-inspired designs. Jules’s children, André, Paule and Jean worked at the family business expanding their reach to include projects that encompassed luxury passenger ship interiors and even so far as the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as the private residences of royalty. 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).
Maison Leleu closed its doors, somewhat mysteriously, in 1973.
Alexia, Jean’s granddaughter, pursued a career in pharmaceuticals but her family history always nagged at her. Why would such a successful company close its doors and walk away from it all? By meeting with her great-grandfather’s secretary, Françoise Siriex, Alexia discovered a contract between Maison Leleu and the Shah of Iran from 1969. Maison Leleu spent the subsequent three years designing and producing over 50 displays for an event that marked the anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire, but in a devastating one-two punch, the Shah didn’t pay for the work and the Iranian Revolution put any hopes out of reach. To avoid bankruptcy, Maison Leleu disappeared.
As of 2018, Alexia has reignited the old flame and is restoring the company back to its former glory. With a strong focus on her heritage and qualities that rendered Maison Leleu exemplary — refinement and timeless design — the new Maison Leleu offers furniture, lighting and rugs and has secured partnerships with luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Cartier as well as Claridge’s Hotel.
One 1stDibs, find a collection of antique Maison Leleu seating, tables and storage case pieces.
- Batistin Spade, Midcentury Three-Seat Sofa, France, circa 1955By Baptistin SpadeLocated in New York, NYThis scaled down midcentury three-seat sofa by Batistin Spade possesses the designer's recognizable thin legs, in this case silvered, and has a broad back set at a charming angle fro...Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Maison Leleu, Midcentury Coffee Table, France, circa 1965By Maison LeleuLocated in New York, NYThis beautiful Maison Leleu coffee table is a fine example of the firm's 1960s output -- a sleek tripodal base of aluminum topped with a perfectly ci...Category
Vintage 1960s French Center Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Maison Leleu, Settee, France, C. 1960By Maison LeleuLocated in New York, NYLoveseat and pair of armchairs with gunmetal patinated bronze legs and gilt bronze sabots, by Maison Leleu. For illustrations of similar models, see Siriex, Françoise. The House of Leleu. New York: Hudson Hills...Category
Vintage 1960s French Loveseats
MaterialsBronze
- Maison Leleu, Sideboard Cabinet, France, 1956By Maison LeleuLocated in New York, NYWith original label dated: 9 Nov 1956 Numbered: 28261 At nearly twelve feet long, this magnificent sideboard is a marvel of unity and proportion. Made of mahogany and covered in...Category
Vintage 1950s French Sideboards
MaterialsBronze
- Maison Leleu, Pair of Lacquered Side Chairs, France, circa 1963By Maison LeleuLocated in New York, NYPair of dining chairs in original Beka lacquer by Sain and Tambute´, with gilt bronze sabots. Each chair is numbered: 33341 through 33348 For an illustration of a similar model, s...Category
Vintage 1960s French Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLacquer
- Maison Leleu Red Lacquered Two-Tier Side Table, France, circa 1955By Maison LeleuLocated in New York, NYNumbered: 21909 Two-tier side table by Maison Leleu.Category
Mid-20th Century French Side Tables
MaterialsBronze
- Chic Large French 1950s Sofa by Maison LeleuBy Maison LeleuLocated in Los Angeles, CAChic large French 1950s sofa by Maison Leleu, Paris.Category
Vintage 1950s French Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak
- Chic Large French 1950s Sofa by Maison LeleuBy Maison LeleuLocated in Los Angeles, CAChic large French 1950s sofa by Maison Leleu, Paris.Category
Vintage 1950s French Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak
- Midcentury Brown Leather Three Seat Sofa, Denmark, circa 1960-70Located in Round Top, TXMid-Century Modern brown leather three-seat sofa with removeable cushions and hard wood frame. The years of use are revealed in the aged patina of the leather, including impressions...Category
Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Beautiful Three-Seat Sofa, circa 1930, FranceBy Paul Dupré-LafonLocated in Nice, Cote d' AzurIn the style of Paul Dupré-Lafon, Large three-seat sofa, Original grey fabric to be redone, France, circa 1930. Measures: 217 x 94 x 85 cm.Category
Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Vintage Overman Pod Three-Seat Sofa, circa 1960’sBy OvermanLocated in Paris, ONThis sculptural molded urethane foam construction sofa is very light weight but durable. This iconic piece was manufactured by Swedish producer Overman for their U.S.A. division.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsPolyester
- Jules Leleu three seater sofa mohair velvet 1940sBy Jules LeleuLocated in Paris, IDFThis beautiful sofa designed by Jules Leleu around 1945 embodies the smooth lines of the art deco living room sets that came on the market in the early 1930s. The smooth and round lines are a thing of beauty, finished with curved oak feet, one of Jules Leleu clubs signature. This sofa has been fully restored and reupholstered using an offwhite thick mohair velvet from Elitis, which is exceptionally soft to the touch, and 100% mohair, that enhances the sofa’s beautiful shape. Impart a luxe, homey and elegance feel to a contemporary living room with this incredible sofa. Photos of the restoration process and documentation are available upon request. The matching pair of club armchairs is also available. Literature: Mobilier et Décoration août-septembre-octobre 1945, Edition Edmond Honoré / Mobilier et Décoration year book...Category
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Sofas
MaterialsVelvet
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
These Accomplished Female Makers Have a Penchant for Offbeat Organic Designs
Daring shapes and soft curves define the impressive output of five women furniture designers around the globe — in Ireland, Ukraine, Israel, Denmark and France.
Michael Coffey Stirs Emotions with Works Like His Satan’s Tongue Table
Drawing on both artistry and clever engineering, the master craftsman imbues his pieces with movement and drama.