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Hailed by critics as the undisputed master of Art Nouveau furniture, Louis Majorelle combined superb design sense with tremendous technical virtuosity. The years from 1898 to 1908 were his most productive, a particularly fertile period, highlighted by the introduction in 1900 of his famous "Nénuphars" series, and in 1903, by the even more elaborate "Orchidée" edition. Characteristic of these furniture patterns was the application of beautifully cast and finished, highly sculptural gilt bronze mounts. These pieces were so distinctive that other makers of the school of Nancy dared not attempt imitation. The Orchidée desk is notable also for the addition of organic glass lamps branching over the desk top, the shades realisticlly formed as orchid blossoms, which were produced in collaboration with Daum Freres. Masterworks such as this desk were produced in very small editions, no more than a handful of examples, although exact numbers are unrecorded.
VARIOUS PPOPERTIES
'ORCHIDEE', A CARVED AND INLAID MAHOGANY, GILT-BRONZE AND GLASS DESK
LOUIS MAJORELLE AND DAUM, CIRCA 1903
Details
'ORCHIDEE', A CARVED AND INLAID MAHOGANY, GILT-BRONZE AND GLASS DESK
Louis Majorelle and Daum, circa 1903
36½in. (92.7cm.) high, 69in. (175cm.) wide, 35½in. (90.2cm.) deep
both glass shades engraved DAUM NANCY with the Cross of Lorraine
Louis Majorelle and Daum, circa 1903
36½in. (92.7cm.) high, 69in. (175cm.) wide, 35½in. (90.2cm.) deep
both glass shades engraved DAUM NANCY with the Cross of Lorraine
Literature
Paul Greenhalgh, ed., Art Nouveau 1890-1914, 2000, p. 462, fig. 176 and cover; Alastair Duncan, The Paris Salons 1895-1914, Volume III: Furniture, 1996, p. 392 for a period illustration of this Orchideé desk exhibited at La Société des Artistes Français, 1903.
Exhibited
Paris, La Société des Artistes Français, 1903
Washington, D.C., National Gallery of Art, Art Nouveau 1890-1914, October 8, 2000-January 28, 2001.
Washington, D.C., National Gallery of Art, Art Nouveau 1890-1914, October 8, 2000-January 28, 2001.