Majorelle, Louis (1859 - 1926)

French painter, designer, furniture designer and cabinetmaker. After studying in his father’s workshop he enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After his father’s death he moved back to Nancy. From 1889 he was strongly influenced by Emile Gallé (1846-1904), who also worked there. He joined the Nancy School under Gallé’s leadership in 1901. Before that he took part in the Paris International Exhibition and exhibited his works at the Salon on several occasions. His furniture made of solid mahogany with exotic inlay and exhibiting clear composition and pure proportions recalls the best traditions of French Baroque furniture design, thus earning him the epithet ’’Cressent of Art Nouveau”.