Louis Majorelle (1859-1926), Tripod Pedestal Table With Clematis, Signed, Circa 1900

Pedestal table in carved natural wood and gilded bronze, the top in the shape of a shield decorated with clematis inlaid with several types of wood (walnut, acacia, rosewood, amaranth, etc.), signed "L. Majorelle", the tripod base with crotch shelf and gilded bronze sabot endings with clematis flower motifs. Art Nouveau period around 1900. Louis MAJORELLE (1859-1926) French cabinetmaker, Louis Majorelle was born in September 1859 in Toul and died in January 1926 in Nancy at the age of 66. Son of the famous furniture designer Auguste Majorelle, he demonstrated a particular interest in crafts and drawing very early on. The young man therefore joined the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy where he received an academic education before joining Aimé Millet's workshop at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1977. When Auguste Majorelle died, his sons Louis and Jules decided to take over the family business, which at the time specialized in the design and manufacture of furniture and earthenware. After taking over the artistic direction of the factory, Louis Majorelle later decided to create his store in Nancy. Even today, he is known for his immense contribution to the Art Nouveau movement in Nancy. Resumption of traditional techniques At the beginning of his career, when he took over the family factory, Louis Majorelle acquired solid knowledge thanks to the training given to him by his father's workers. A few years later, he was ready to take over the artistic direction of the house. From then on, Majorelle paid homage to his father's furniture and mainly produced copies in the Louis XV style which were hugely successful. Louis Majorelle exhibited his creations on several occasions and even received a silver medal in the "luxury low-cost furniture" category at the 1889 Paris World's Fair. Towards a more personal style Very quickly, Louis Majorelle managed to free himself from these influences and move towards a more personal aesthetic. From the end of the 1990s, the artist became interested in the work of Émile Gallé, a famous French glassmaker and cabinetmaker, and began to grasp the "Art Nouveau" style. He then opted for a fluid, naturalist and symbolist aesthetic and incorporated elements such as stem plants, water lilies, thistles and dragonflies, which sometimes intertwined. Although Louis Majorelle is primarily known for his work as a cabinetmaker, he had a workshop built in 1897 specializing in metalwork in order to create bronzes to decorate his furniture, but also his lighting fixtures. During his career, he will also have the opportunity to present ceramics and glassware.