A designer and ensemblier, Jules Leleu 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 the opulent materials — from lacquer and ivory to sharkskin and exotic woods — that were a keynote of haute Art Deco design.
Leleu was born into a family of artisans and decorators. Their firm, Maison Leleu, had existed since the 18th century and Jules would guide it through much of the 20th. (The business lasted until 1973, headed at the end by Jules's children.) He studied architecture, served as an aviator in World War I, and after the conflict took up design full-time.
Leleu presented work at the 1925 exposition in Paris that gave us the term Art Deco, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York purchased a burl amboyna wood commode by Leleu directly from the show.
As the desks, dining tables and other furniture on 1stDibs show, Leleu was a stickler for precision craft and preferred to let his materials do the talking — his furniture is generally spare and sleek; its presence is established by figuring (or patterning/graining) in the wood and the occasional marquetry medallion. He had a keen eye for currents in design and an adaptable sensibility.
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). Jules Leleu is a guiding light of 20th-century modernism: a man whose work represents both a devotion to traditional handiwork and an appreciation for the next wave in design.
Find Jules Leleu tables, sideboards, dining chairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Jules Leleu two doors cabinet cherry wood marquetry bronze 1940
By Jules Leleu
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful cabinet produced by Jules Leleu’s workshop in the early 1940s. Perfectly embodying the designer’s refined aesthetic, the piece combines restrained lines with an exceptional...
Bronze
French Art Deco rosewood and brass sewing cabinet 1940s
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful Art Deco sewing cabinet fully covered with rosewood veneer dates from the early 1940, and features two drawers and a storage lifting ...
Rosewood
Louis Majorelle rosewood cabinet secretary desk circa 1910
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Paris, IDF
Superb cabinet secretary desk executed by the Ateliers Majorelle in Nancy circa 1910. This piece presents a strong presence, entirely crafted in rosewood, bringing warmth and depth t...
Rosewood
Midcentury French Modernist Cabinet Vaisselier, 1950s
Located in Paris, IDF
Warm light brown oak and rich copper form a beautiful color palette in this cabinet vaisselier from the 1950s. On the front and top of the cabinet, the oak displays a striped lightwood/dark wood pattern that feels fun and very much of the era, while the recessed portions of the oak appear to shift into burnt orange for a subtle injection of natural color. Opening the door at the front of the cabinet, a series of small drawers are revealed for hidden storage and organization; the left side of the cabinet is formed by transparent glass, ideal for stowing decorative items or glassware, as well as giving the piece a sense of being filled with light. Though it was created by an unknown French craftsman, this piece is reminiscent of avant-garde designer Jean Royere’s work. Place it in your living room for a unique midcentury French modernist...
Copper
ISA Bergamo Italian Rosewood and Brass Commode, 1950s
By ISA Bergamo
Located in Paris, IDF
This rare chest of drawers produced by ISA Bergamo in Italy in the 1950s imparts a cosy, chic and glowing mood to a space. The warm rosewood remains looking beautiful and smooth seve...
Brass
Art Deco Amboyna Burl Wood Commode Attr. Maurice Dufrène 1940s
By Maurice Dufrêne
Located in Paris, IDF
This beautiful 1940s Art Deco chest of drawers attributed to Maurice Dufrène imparts a cosy, glowing mood to any space. The warm amboyna burl wood remains looking healthy and smooth some eighty years later. Gilded carved feet and solid brass handles adorn the front of the commode, and one of the signatures of Maurice Dufrène during his lead at La Maîtrise. This commode feels delightfully modern for the period and charmingly vintage now...
Brass, Gold Leaf
Fine Art Deco Mahogany Cabinet, attributed to Jules Leleu, circa 1925
By Jules Leleu
Located in Roma, IT
Important Art Déco cabinet, attributed to Jules Leleu, realized between 1925 and 1930. Executed in mahogany veneer with subtle figuring and a warm, satin finish, the cabinet showcas...
Mahogany, Ivory
Art Deco Cabinet in Rosewood by Maxime Old, France, 1935, Antique
By Maxime Old
Located in Miami, FL
Exceptional quality piece of furniture in rosewood, (Palissandre) Art Deco period, standing on a base ending by four rectangular feet each one encased in a nickel plated metal parts. Two thick metal rings on each front doors. This piece is an authentic antique furniture...
Rosewood
Cocobolo Cabinet, Restored to High Gloss Made in France by Jules Leleu, Art Deco
By Jules Leleu
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This luxurious display cabinet (vitrine) in the Art Deco style originates from France and is the work of the celebrated designer Jules Leleu. It was created during the 1930s and repr...
Wood, Palisander, Cocobolo
Cocobolo cabinet, restored to high gloss made in France by Jules Leleu, Art Deco
By Jules Leleu
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
20th century Art Deco display cabinet. Completely restored to the high gloss. Material: Palisandr Cocobolo. We guarantee safe a the cheapest air transport from Europe to the whole w...
Wood, Palisander, Cocobolo
Antique French Art Deco Mahogany Wardrobe Armoire Cabinet, 1940s
Located in Detroit, MI
This antique French Art Deco wardrobe armoire was made in France circa 1940. Beautifully handcrafted with mahogany veneer over a solid wood frame, the cabinet features clean geometri...
Metal, Brass
Art Deco Cabinet, Wood & Metal, Portugal, 1940
Located in Lisbon, PT
This cabinet features a drawer and five shelves. It was crafted in the parish of Bonfim, Porto, Portugal, by Armazéns Nascimento, and is adorned with brass handles. In Porto, piece...
Metal
