Jules Leleu founded Maison Leleu with his brother Marcel in Paris in 1910. The firm specialized in interior design projects and furnishings created in the era’s luxurious Art Deco style for residential and commercial spaces around the world. There were plush sofas, sleek walnut cabinets that featured marquetry and brass door pulls, and stately coffee tables with bases that terminated with substantial bronze sabots.
A designer and ensemblier, Jules was one of the key authors of the Art Deco movement. While he did not win the fame of such contemporaries as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Jean-Michel Frank, Leleu had a longer career and was easily their peer in the conception of trim, refined furniture forms and in the use of opulent materials — from lacquer and ivory to sharkskin and exotic woods — that were keynotes of haute Art Deco design.
Marcel and Jules’s clientele included President Eisenhower, the Ecuadorian ambassador to France and Prince Pierre of Monaco, who favored Maison Leleu’s Directoire-inspired designs. Jules’s children, André, Paule and Jean worked at the family business expanding their reach to include projects that encompassed luxury passenger ship interiors and even so far as the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as the private residences of royalty. Maison Leleu would embrace many of the starker forms of modernism after the 1940s, as well as new materials such as artificial lacquer and plastics (then considered cutting-edge rather than cheap).
Maison Leleu closed its doors, somewhat mysteriously, in 1973.
Alexia, Jean’s granddaughter, pursued a career in pharmaceuticals but her family history always nagged at her. Why would such a successful company close its doors and walk away from it all? By meeting with her great-grandfather’s secretary, Françoise Siriex, Alexia discovered a contract between Maison Leleu and the Shah of Iran from 1969. Maison Leleu spent the subsequent three years designing and producing over 50 displays for an event that marked the anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire, but in a devastating one-two punch, the Shah didn’t pay for the work and the Iranian Revolution put any hopes out of reach. To avoid bankruptcy, Maison Leleu disappeared.
As of 2018, Alexia has reignited the old flame and is restoring the company back to its former glory. With a strong focus on her heritage and qualities that rendered Maison Leleu exemplary — refinement and timeless design — the new Maison Leleu offers furniture, lighting and rugs and has secured partnerships with luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Cartier as well as Claridge’s Hotel.
One 1stDibs, find a collection of antique Maison Leleu seating, tables and storage case pieces.
Big Size Rug Art Deco Signed A.Leleu
By Maison Leleu
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Very big size rug Art Deco by A LELEU with an Aztec design . The rug dated from the ‘70 or ‘80 . Very contemporary design Completely washed and with a new fabric on the underside...
Wool
Rug Art Deco, circa 1950 signed by Jules Leleu company – Diameter 2.45m -N° 1625
By Maison Leleu, Paule Leleu
Located in Paris, FR
Rug signed by the Jules Leleu company – Art Deco, circa 1950 – Diameter 2.45m – No. 1625 Artist: Maison Jules Leleu Period: 20th century Style: Art Deco Condition: Excellent Materia...
Wool
French Mid-Century Modern Rug Signed Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in Milan, IT
Paule Leleu (1906-1987) was one of the most celebrated carpet designers of 20th century France. Daughter of Jules Leleu, a prolific furniture designer and interior decorator of the A...
Wool
French Art Deco Rug in the Style of Jules Leleu
By Maurice Dufrêne, André Arbus, Andre Domin & Marcel Genevriere for Maison Dominique, Paul Follot, Jules Leleu
Located in Houston, TX
Colorful French Art Deco carpet/modernist carpet with great geometric design and fantastic colors (cream, black, lavender, purple, blue, and green.) This great French Art Deco geometric rug...
Wool
Art Deco Rug
By Art Decor
Located in Glasgow, GB
A very rare Art Deco period rug hand woven in English wool. Most Art Deco rugs come in large sizes but this very interesting piece is smaller. In exceptional condition and versatile...
Wool
Vintage French Art Deco Rug by Doris Leslie Blau, Hand-Knotted, 1950
Located in New York, NY
Vintage French Art Deco Rug Size: 4'10" × 6'6" (147 × 198 cm) This rare and elegant French Art Deco rug from the 1950s is a compelling example of mid-century design that masterfully ...
Wool
Signed Leleu Vintage French Art Deco Circle Rug with Medallion - Rug & Kilim
Located in Long Island City, NY
Made with hand-knotted wool in France circa 1950, this 6x6 vintage French Art Deco rug is an extremely collectible mid-century circle rug from Leleu Decorateur—the work of an iconic ...
Wool
Signed Vintage Leleu French Art Deco Circle Rug in White and Blue - Rug & Kilim
Located in Long Island City, NY
Made with hand-knotted wool in France circa 1940-1950, this 7x7 vintage French Art Deco rug is an extremely collectible mid-century circle rug from Leleu Decorateur—the work of an ic...
Wool
Midcentury carpet signed by Leleu
By Paule Leleu
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Midcentury carpet signed by Leleu. The marks on the carpet are from a table standing on it.
Wool
Vintage French Art Deco Rug. Size: 8 ft 4 in x 13 ft
Located in New York, NY
A beautifully artistic black and cream colored flat-woven vintage French Art Deco rug, country of origin / rug type: French rugs, circa date: vintage mid-20th century. Size: 8 ft 4 i...
Wool
Art Deco Hand-Knotted Wool Rug by Jules Leleu, France, 1920
By Jules Leleu
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This traditional handwoven French Leleu deco rug has an overall eu-de-nil field with a profusion of delicate tiles checkered with alternating geometric icons, in a majestic turquoise...
Wool
French Art Deco Narrow Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Characterized by a floppy handle and a relatively coarse weave, rugs such as these are referred by European scholars as 'travail domestique', meaning that they are home craft products inspired by popular patterns. This extremely narrow rug...
Wool
$20,000
W 37.19 in L 48.06 in
Sublime Art Deco Rug Signed by Maurice Dufrene, Red with Floral Decoration
By Maurice Dufrêne
Located in New York, NY
-Sublime Art Deco rug signed by Maurice Dufrene, -About the artist: Maurice Dufrene (1876-1955) One of the premiere French designers of the 20th century, Maurice Dufrene was born in Paris in 1876. He was educated at Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. By 1899, at the age of just 23, he became the director and manager of La Maison Moderne. This shop represented an association of artists who were working together to create designs which could be produced in multiples. Dufrene's work was first shown at salons in 1902 and from 1903 he regularly exhibited at Salon d'Automne and Salons of Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts. At the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes (which would later give the movement "Art Deco" its name), Dufrene's designs included luxury boutiques, the living room of Une Ambassade Francaise pavilion, the music salon...
Wool
Art Deco Style Rug
Located in Soho, London, GB
A hand-woven wool rug rendered in deep chocolate brown and ivory, its geometrical pattern drawn from the decorative language of Art Deco design. Broad ivory bands with stepped, notch...
Wool