Louis Majorelle

LOUIS MAJORELLE (Toul, France, 1859 – Nancy, 1926).
Set of four Art Nouveau nesting tables, ca. 1910.
Mahogany, with fruitwood marquetry.
Signed “L. Majorelle” in marquetry on the tabletop of the largest table.
In good condition.
Measurements: 78 x 61 x 40 cm (largest table).

This set of nesting tables is a representative example of Art Nouveau furniture by Louis Majorelle, one of the leading figures of the École de Nancy. Its design combines the elegance of organic forms with refined marquetry work, reflecting the influence of the plant world that characterizes the French cabinetmaker’s work.

The tables feature rectangular tabletops with gently curved profiles, decorated with floral compositions created by combining woods of different shades. Roses, leaves, and stems are arranged asymmetrically across the surfaces, creating a delicate chromatic contrast. The frames rest on slender legs with sinuous profiles, featuring stylized arches that lend a sense of lightness to the whole. Their interlocking design allows for a blend of domestic functionality with the ornamental richness characteristic of Art Nouveau.

Louis Majorelle was a key figure in the French decorative arts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Trained in Nancy and Paris, he assumed artistic direction of the family business in 1884, steering its production toward a naturalistic style based on the integration of structure and ornamentation. He participated in the 1900 Paris World’s Fair and was one of the founding vice presidents of the École de Nancy in 1901. His furniture is represented in major institutions such as the Musée de l’École de Nancy and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Villa Majorelle, built in Nancy between 1901 and 1902, stands as one of the most significant examples of his contribution to Art Nouveau.