Tea table, Louis Majorelle, art nouveau

Magnificent and rare tea table, 19th century, from the louis majorelle factory in nancy. Table with two lacquered wooden tops, with japanese art nouveau decor (birds, flowers, butterflies, etc.). Four moving legs in blackened wood. Chiseled bronze handles. Original labels "louis majorelle*, manufactured in nancy 3 rue girardet, depot in paris 56 rue de paradis". Under each tray. A nugget, totally in its original state, which ideally requires restoration in order to regain all its splendor (paint skips, small deformation of the upper plate, small gaps in the side strips, stability, etc.), see photos. Louis majorelle (1859-1926) after following the courses of théodore devilly and charles pêtre at the nancy school of fine arts, louis majorelle was admitted to the paris school of fine arts in 1877 in the studio of painter aimé millet. Two years later, the death of his father forced him to return to nancy. With his brother jules, he took over the family furniture and earthenware manufacturing business. In 1894, after a historically inspired production, louis majorelle replaced the varnished or painted decoration of rococo and japanese furniture in favor of inlaid decoration with naturalist and symbolist references. Metal work is developed in his workshops for the creation of bronzes adorning the furniture, but also for lighting fixtures in collaboration with daum from 1898. He has his ceramics produced in different workshops in the lorraine region and creates models of sandstone objects for alphonse cytère (rambervillers) and the mougin brothers. His multiple activities led him to open numerous exhibition stores, notably in paris, lyon and lille. In 1901, he was one of the vice-presidents of the nancy school, the spearhead of art nouveau in france, whose essential inspiration was in plant forms (ginkgo, umbel, giant hogweed, water lily, thistle, cucurbits…) and animals (dragonflies…).