The Review
20 th Century Decorative Arts & Design
Tuesday, June 24, 2025


Louis Majorelle (1859-1926)
Exceptional “Water Lily” Lady’s Desk, model created in 1900
Moulded and carved mahogany and courbaril veneer, leather-lined top, significant gilt bronze ornamentation with water lily leaves, flowers, and buds, applied to the legs and forming the drawer handles.
(Original key, slight restoration to one edge)
H. 98 – W. 142 – D. 80 cm

Important :
A similar example is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Inv. GC 139)

Provenance :
Former collection of Dr. César Tournier, Chief of Clinical Medicine at the University of Lyon
By descent to the current owners

In 1900, cabinetmaker Louis Majorelle designed and crafted a desk and a display cabinet in mahogany and gilt bronze, both featuring the water lily motif.

In this ensemble, the artist draws inspiration from the water lily not only in the decoration but also in the structure of the furniture itself. The desk is adorned with drawer handles in the shape of lily leaves, while the cabinet’s vertical supports are embellished with long gilt bronze stems dotted with floral buds. The gilt bronze elements are intended to enhance the dynamic lines of the pieces. The combination of precious materials—gilt bronze and rich mahogany—adds to the sense of luxury Majorelle sought to convey.

Louis Majorelle developed a new visual language, making nature not merely a decorative element, but the very structure of the object. He used tall, freestanding vegetal stems to lighten and energize the base, creating the impression that the furniture was sprouting from the ground. It was nature’s lines, flexibility, and strength that guided the overall structure and unified the ornamentation.

A renowned cabinetmaker, Majorelle was also committed to making his work accessible. He produced affordable, serially-made furniture, which allowed him to fund the creation of more luxurious, one-of-a-kind pieces like this water lily ensemble.

The desk and a larger version of the display cabinet were exhibited in Paris at the 1900 Exposition Universelle, where Majorelle achieved great success. The water lily desk later appeared in an undated Majorelle catalogue—likely published between 1903 and 1905—offered with or without bronze mounts on the legs, and in two different sizes. This success has endured, and these pieces are now among the most sought-after by collectors.

Also from the same collection are a music cabinet and a small writing desk by Majorelle, both to be presented in the same sale.


Louis Majorelle (1859-1926)
Exceptional “Water Lily” Display Cabinet
Moulded mahogany and courbaril veneer, featuring two glazed front doors opening to an interior fitted with five removable shelves; prominent gilt bronze ornamentation with water lily leaves and flower motifs forming vegetal columns ending in flaring feet.
H. 220 – W. 135 – D. 48 cm
(Original key, lower back panel of the cabinet missing, some veneer cracks on the upper side panels, a loss to the lower part)

Provenance :
Former collection of Dr. César Tournier, Chief of Clinical Medicine at the University of Lyon
By descent to the current owners

Furthermore, four other pieces by Majorelle from the Vigne series will also complement this selection.

Upcoming Sale
20 th Century Decorative Arts & Design
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Aguttes Neuilly