Louis Majorelle (French, 1859-1926)

Paintings

Who is furniture maker Louis Majorelle?

Louise Majorelle was a French furniture maker and designer whose work helped define Art Nouveau style around the turn of the century. His pieces are avidly sought by collectors thanks to their innate beauty and wonderful use of natural wood like elm, holly, plane, chestnut, pear, jacaranda, amaranth, and rosewood. Majorelle was one of the founding members of the Ecole de Nancy, a group of artists and architects who were instrumental in developing the Art Nouveau style. This group left their mark by participating at all the major French exhibitions at this time as well as selling their wares to many prominent French families.

Majorelle relocated to Paris after World War I. He opened his own furniture workshop, collaborating with the famed Daum glassworks to produce their own line of signature furniture. It was during this time that Majorelle’s work shifted to reflect the growing popularity of the Art Deco style. Majorelle’s work is so distinctive that it still acts as a muse for artists today, most recently several of his strange and whimsical pieces were featured prominently in the French film, L’heure d’ete -- released in the United States as Summer Hours.

What kind of art did Louis Majorelle make?

Louis Majorelle was an interior designer and furniture maker who primarily made Art Nouveau-style pieces. He experimented in several mediums, including the aforementioned furniture, paintings, sculptures, and even glassware. Majorelle was the vice president and founding member of the Ecole de Nancy, a group of turn-of-the-century artists who broke off from the artistic establishment to develop their own aesthetic. This group is considered one of the major reasons that the Art Nouveau style became so popular. Majorelle was inspired by naturalism, incorporating motifs and designs based on the forest of his native France. His furniture was often divided into two different production lines: one was luxury-based and sold to the most prominent families of Europe, and a second, significantly less expensive one.

How did furniture maker Louis Majorelle get started?

Louis Majorelle was born in the small town of Toul, France in 1859. When he was still a toddler, his father (also a furniture designer) moved the family to Nancy. It was there that Louis would begin his studies at the Paris School of Fine Art. Unfortunately, two years into the program, Majorelle’s father would suddenly pass, leaving the young furniture maker head of the family business. He returned to Nancy, where he (along with architect Lucien Weissenburger) would found Ecole de Nancy, an artist collective which would be one of the main proponents of the Art Nouveau style.

How much is Louis Majorelle’s art worth?

Majorelle worked in a variety of mediums, so his pieces can be worth anywhere from a few hundred dollars to many tens of thousands of dollars. Pieces on the higher end are mainly from the luxury line of Majorelle’s furniture workshop. The highest amount for a Louis Majorelle piece at auction is $1,649,312 USD for GRAND LIT ET PAIRE DE CHEVETS 'AUX NÉNUPHARS', which was sold in 2011.

Where to buy Louis Majorelle art for sale?

See the works for sale below. Why buy from Heritage? Art buyers feel confident because our experts know the market and put careful valuations on the artwork for sale. We make the bidding process easier to help you expand your art collection.

How to value Louis Majorelle art?

The best way to value art is to compare past auction prices for similar works. View past sale prices below. When you’re ready to sell, contact Heritage Auctions to request an auction estimate of the likely selling price at auction. If you need a formal written appraisal for estate planning or insurance, please contact our Appraisal Services Department.