Louis Majorelle studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. In 1879 his father died in Nancy and he was obliged to return home to take over the family’s cabinet making business.
Originally he made furniture in the style of the “ebenistes” during the reign of Louis XV. The marquetry decoration is characteristic of his work. He used naturalist elements with plant stalks providing the structure.
As in the 18th century, the furniture was embellished with gilt bronze. After his success at the Universal Exhibition of 1900 his forms became simpler and he turned to industrial production. He was one of the leading lights of the Art Nouveau movement. A set of his bedroom furniture can be seen at Musée d’Orsay.
Another bed can be seen at Arts Decoratifs. This oak bed features a variety of different wood in the mouldings, panels and inlays including walnut, rosewood, elm, hornbeam and sycamore.
