Lighting by Louis Majorelle, France

Louis Majorelle (1859-1926) was a renowned French artist, furniture designer, and decorator who was a leading figure in the Art Nouveau movement. Born in Nancy, France, the son of a furniture designer and manufacturer, Majorelle trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy.

In 1879, Majorelle began working in his father's furniture workshop, where he learned about furniture design and manufacturing and in 1901 he took over the business, which he renamed "Majorelle et Fils." He quickly gained a reputation for his innovative designs, which combined traditional furniture styles with Art Nouveau motifs.

Majorelle's furniture designs were characterized by their flowing, organic lines and their use of natural materials such as wood, metal, and glass. He was particularly known for his use of marquetry, in which small pieces of wood are cut and assembled to create a decorative pattern. Many of his designs featured intricate floral more... and plant motifs, which were a hallmark of the Art Nouveau style.

In addition to his furniture designs, Majorelle was also a skilled decorator and designer of interior spaces. He worked on numerous private homes and public buildings, including the Villa Majorelle, his own home in Nancy, which was designed by the architect Henri Sauvage.

Majorelle's work was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, and he received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. less...