Louis Majorelle (1859 – 1926) French Designer and Cabinetmaker

This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.

Exquisite Louis Majorelle Art Nouveau writing desk with intricate floral motifs and gilded bronze accents.
An elegant Louis Majorelle Art Nouveau writing desk featuring fluid organic forms, sculpted floral details, and gilded bronze accents.

Louis Majorelle (1859–1926) was a French artist, cabinetmaker, and furniture designer renowned for his significant contributions to the Art Nouveau movement. As a leading figure of the École de Nancy, he was pivotal in shaping the decorative arts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His influence can still be seen in many contemporary designers who study Louis Majorelle’s techniques and style.

Portrait of Louis Majorelle, the renowned French Art Nouveau furniture designer.
Undated photograph of Louis Majorelle, the celebrated French designer known for his exquisite Art Nouveau furniture and craftsmanship. By Unknown author – old picture, Public Domain, Link

Biography

Majorelle took over the family cabinetmaking and ceramics business in Nancy in 1879. In the late 1880s, he began designing Modern furniture. Working in the Art Nouveau style, Majorelle was the most dynamic practitioner of the School of Nancy. By mechanising his factory, he produced significant quantities of highly decorated commercial furniture and more elaborate pieces using expensive materials such as mahogany, burr walnut, and ormolu. The firm’s catalogue included a wide range of furniture models in both historicist and Art Nouveau styles. Louis Majorelle’s innovative designs stood out among his contemporaries and made a lasting impact on the furniture design industry. 

Unconventional furniture

Known primarily for his unconventional furniture, he designed pianos, desks, armchairs, and, when his workshop included metalworking, wrought-iron railings, ormolu, iron mounts, and lighting. 

Art Nouveau Tray (1899-1900) Wooden marquetry tray the design is of an asymmetric floral spray, with a bee on the top right. Designed by Louis Majorelle
Art Nouveau Lamp ca. 1925 designed by Louis Majorelle
Art Nouveau sttykle Armchair (1899-1900) by Louis Majorelle (V&A)

He produced the metalwork for Daum, and it made the glassware for Majorelle’s lighting. Majorelle designed lamp bases with cloth shades similar to Louis Comfort Tiffany’s. This collaboration showcased Louis Majorelle’s versatility in different materials. 

In 1901, he became vice-president of Ecole de Nancy. After World War I, he moved into the Art Déco idiom with more severe forms and restricted ornamentation. Henri Sauvage designed his residence in Nancy. The firm continued after Majorelle’s death under Alfred Lévy, its artistic and technical director. Louis Majorelle’s legacy endured through these changes as his designs remained influential. 

In the mid-1930s, Lévy was joined by Paul Beucher at the Atelier Majorelle. The firm had showrooms in Nancy, Paris, and Lyons. This expansion showed the lasting demand for Louis Majorelle’s unique approach to design. 

Exhibitions

His work was shown at the 1903 Ecole de Nancy exhibition in Paris. With Alfred Lévy, he designed the study for the Nancy pavilion at the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Louis Majorelle’s innovative contributions were widely recognized and celebrated in these exhibitions.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. For more detailed insights into Louis Majorelle’s life and work, this book is an excellent source. 

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