Antique Art Nouveau Inlaid Wooden Cabinet by Majorelle, France, Signed

Details

Description

This exquisite antique French Art Nouveau inlaid wood and glass cabinet was designed by Louis Majorelle and made in Nancy, … Read more This exquisite antique French Art Nouveau inlaid wood and glass cabinet was designed by Louis Majorelle and made in Nancy, France circa 1910-1920. This exceptional, museum quality cabinet exemplifies elegant, Art Nouveau design featuring sinuous, organic shapes and stylized reference to the natural world. It is expertly crafted from mahogany, oak, walnut and other mixed exotic woods with stunning inlaid detail work and beautiful natural grain patterning. This unique, beautifully proportioned cabinet features two upper doors with beveled glass on the left opening on a silk-lined interior with one removable glass shelf and smaller wooden door on the right opening on a compartment with one removable wooden shelf. The lower vertical wooden door opens to storage with interior vertical partitions and one shelf. Each of the three doors has an original working brass key. This highly collectible cabinet and showpiece is both beautiful and functional. Signed at bottom right with “Majorelle Nancy” stamp.

Louis Majorelle
Louis Majorelle (1859-1926) was a distinguished French furniture designer, decorative artist and manufacturer who played a prominent role in the development of the Art Nouveau style. Born in Toul, France, on September 26, 1859, Majorelle was the son of a cabinetmaker. His workshop produced exquisite pieces of furniture, characterized by their sinuous lines, organic forms and intricate marquetry. Majorelle's designs often featured natural motifs such as plants, flowers and insects showcasing his appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. Majorelle collaborated with other prominent Art Nouveau artists, including Emile Galle and the Daum Brothers. As one of the founding members of the Ecole de Nancy, Majorelle helped establish Nancy as a significant center for the Art Nouveau movement. Louis Majorelle died on January 15, 1926 in Nancy, France, but his legacy as a pioneer of the Art Nouveau movement endures. His creations remain influential in the field of design and many of his pieces can be found in prestigious museums and private collections worldwide.

École de Nancy
The École de Nancy, or Nancy School, was a group of Art Nouveau artisans and designers working in Nancy, France between 1890 and 1914. Major figures included the furniture designer Louis Majorelle and glass and furniture designer Émile Gallé. Their work was largely inspired by floral and vegetal forms found in the region and the goal of the group was to produce ordinary objects, such as furniture, glassware, and pottery made with fine craftsmanship in original forms made widely accessible to the average person.

CONDITION
Excellent vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use, minor marks and a faint ring to interior as per photos. Upper silk-lined compartment shows fabric stains as per photos. Upper right door has applied period sticker. Upper right compartment interior shelf is a replacement. Possible hairline repair to bottom edge of lower door. Some single slotted screws on backside have been replaced. Three original brass keys. See less