Leleu Jules (1883-1961) - Large Walnut And Mother-of-pearl Bar Cabinet, 20th Century

Jules LELEU (1883-1961)

Important apartment bar cabinet in walnut inlaid with square mother-of-pearl pastilles opening to four doors in front and a flap over shelves lined with mirror.
Rests on saber feet.
Invoice from LELEU (15/07/1955)

Dimensions
Height. : 106 cm
Long. : 220 cm
Prof. : 46 cm

Jules-Emile Leleu, born in Boulogne-sur-Mer on June 17, 1883 and died in Neuilly-sur-Seine on July 11, 1961, was a French designer, decorator, draughtsman and painter who distinguished himself during the Art Deco period.

At the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, he exhibited a dining room that won him a Grand Prix. Among the furniture presented at this exhibition is a commode now in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Leleu installs furniture for French and foreign embassies, and works for Prince Pierre of Monaco, Prince Takatma Tsu of Japan, and the King of Romania.
He creates the French salon in the Palais des Nations for the League of Nations in Geneva - now the United Nations Office - preserved to this day in its original state.
With his son André, Jules Leleu designed the Martin de Janville sanatorium for the French Air Force. The furniture, designed from wooden models, was produced in folded sheet metal and lacquered by the Jean Prouvé workshop, which lent its expertise to Jules Leleu in the production of economical furniture.

After the war, Maison Leleu expanded even further.
Among its best-known projects, Leleu was commissioned by shipping companies to fit out their fleet of vessels, and also designed the private dining room for the Élysée Palace (at the request of President Vincent Auriol).
In 1951, his advice was sought for the construction of the cruise liner Flandre.
In 1954, the SNCF commissioned Leleu to design the presidential train inaugurated by President René Coty.
Mamie Einsenhower, wife of U.S. President Eisenhower, herself comes to choose furniture at Leleu for their French residence.
It was at this time that Leleu moved to New York City, to the chic Upper East Side, next to Baccarat, with whom Maison Leleu was associated.