Signed Paule Leleu Vintage Art Deco Rug in Gold With Florals - Rug & Kilim

Details

Description

This magnificent and rare collectible 8x10 vintage Art Deco rug, hand-knotted in plush wool pile by Paule Leleu circa 1942–1946, … Read more This magnificent and rare collectible 8x10 vintage Art Deco rug, hand-knotted in plush wool pile by Paule Leleu circa 1942–1946, is an exciting centerpiece for Rug & Kilim's Art Deco Collection. As chief rug designer for the influential Maison Leleu, Leleu is celebrated for transitioning the Art Deco aesthetic toward more fluid, post-war elegance and some of the richest works of the period, including this particularly excellent find among the artist’s more detailed works.

On the Design:

This sublime signed Paule Leleu rug from the mid 1950s represents an extraordinary acquisition for Rug & Kilim's most prestigious collection of French modernist masterworks. Created during the critical wartime period when Leleu expanded the design vocabulary to embrace rich floral patterns while maintaining Art Deco's geometric discipline, this piece exemplifies the sophisticated style moderne that defined French luxury during the 1940s.

The design features a centralized, open field of luminous saffron and gold, serving as a warm, opulent canvas. This space is framed by a lavish, scrolling border of large, stylized roses, leaves, and smaller blossoms.

The motifs are rendered in a bold yet sophisticated palette of deep red, soft rose pink, and rich olive green. The artistry lies in the perfect balance between the opulent border and the uncluttered field—a hallmark of Leleu's genius. Authenticated as an original creation, the rug bears the visible signature of Paule Leleu, confirming its status not merely as a luxurious floor covering but as a prized artifact of French style moderne and a beautiful piece of European design heritage.

The piece represents a pivotal moment in French design history when wartime constraints paradoxically liberated artistic experimentation—Leleu's embrace of lush floral vocabularies during this period created new aesthetic possibilities that influenced post-war French luxury design. For connoisseurs understanding style moderne as France's distinctive contribution to international modernism, this represents the ultimate acquisition—a signed masterwork from the artist whose carpet designs defined French sophistication during the mid-20th century.

Condition:

This mid-century Leleu Art Deco rug further enjoys an overall good condition for its age and origin: another element of its rare and collectible provenance for connoisseurs and designers alike. See less