A research on the history of Art Nouveau interiors and furniture design

1. Art Nouveau
1890-1914

2. History
• The idea behind art nouveau was to
create a style that broke away from
historical styles and search for original
ideas. In the beginning, this movement
didn’t have a name until it was coined
and popularized by Siegfried Bing’s
Maison de L’art nouveau, an art gallery
in Paris.
• Art Nouveau flourished in Major
European countries such as France,
Belgium, Germany…
• It represents the beginning of modern
design. Artists and designers rejected
traditional styles in favor of new,
organic forms that emphasized
humanity’s connection with nature.

3. The Exposition Universelle
of 1900 was a world's fair
held in Paris, France, from
14 April to 12 November
1900, to celebrate the
achievements of the past
century and to accelerate
development into the next.
The style that was
universally present in the
Exposition was Art
Nouveau. The fair, visited by
nearly 50 million, displayed
many machines, inventions,
and architecture that are
now nearly universally
known, including the
Grande Roue de Paris Ferris
wheel, Russian nesting dolls,
diesel engines, talking films,
escalators, and the
telegraphone

4. La Porte Monumental Paris: The Triumphal Gateway of the
Place de la Concord, By Rene Binet

5. Le restaurant de luxe 'Le Pavillon Bleu', une collaboration
franco-belge au pied de la Tour Eiffel, à l'Exposition
universelle de Paris 1900

6. Paris Exposition Grand Palais, sculpture display, Paris, France,
1900

7. The most recognized
Art Nouveau structure
within the Grand
Palais is the iron
staircase whose
railings are intricately
woven in fluid, organic
shapes

8. The Art Nouveau inspired structure, the Petit
Palais, was constructed by the architect Giraud.
The Petit Palais was constructed to hold the
exhibition of French art, but is known mainly for
its Art Nouveau inspired iron work and general
design

12. Standing at 1.22m high,
the monumental pair of
swan vases was the perfect
opportunity for The
legendary Sèvres Porcelain
Manufactory to illustrate
their mastery of the Art
Nouveau aesthetic. It also
shows some japonism
influence

13. A TOTAL STYLE

15. Characteristics
• Flat decorative patterns
• Intertwined organic forms such as stems or flowers
• An emphasis on handcrafting as opposed to machine manufacturing
• Aversion to symmetry (Japanese influence)
• Motifs and patterns based on flora and fauna
• Hard, light colored material
• Use of modern techniques and materials (iron, steel, glass, concrete)
• Fluid twisting
• “Whiplash effect” (trademark of the natural artform)

16. Flat decorative patterns
Intertwined
organic forms
such as stems or
flowers
An emphasis on
handcrafting as
opposed to machine
manufacturing

18. Two distinct centers of Art Nouveau developed in France – one in
Paris around Bing and his shop and the other in Nancy under the
aegis of Emile Gallé, 1846-1904.
TWO ART NOUVEAU SCHOOLS IN FRANCE

19. Famous Designers of the Art Nouveau Style
Emile Gale, Louis Majorelle, Hector Guimard, Georges de
Feurre, Eugene Gaillard: Cabinetmakers
Louis Comfort Tiffany- lighting
René Lalique- glass and jewellery
Victor Horta – Architect
Alphonse Mucha – posters

20. Architecture
Casa Batlo by Antoni Gaudi Prague city Hall

21. Entrance To Paris Subway Station
Ceramic Hotel Paris

22. Interiors
Hotel van
Eetvelde in
Brussels

26. Floors are parquet and should be stained and varnished.
Wallpaper designs are highly stylised flowers, particularly
poppies, water lilies and wisteria; branches, tendrils, leaves,
stems, thistles, pomegranates; peacock feathers, birds and
dragonflies.
Stained glass panels went in doors as well as furniture -
wardrobe doors, cabinets, mirrors etc, with curved leading for
the stalks and leaves, ending in a flower made from pearly
enamels or semi-precious stones such as amethysts.
Door handles beaten metal for door handles and light fittings
are perfect for that handmade finish
Colour schemes are quite muted and sombre and became
known as 'greenery yallery' - mustard, sage green, olive green
and brown. Team these with lilac, violet and purple, peacock
blue. Mackintosh experimented with all-white interiors
Lighting A Tiffany lamp is a must have

27. Accessories
The chairs in an Art Nouveau decorated
house had high backrests and the tables
were low and most often had the
countertop made out of colored glass.
Painted glass and stained glass are
defining elements of this style. It is used
in making decorative objects, lamps or for
embedded panels in the furniture or in
the windows of doors.

28. Furniture

29. Art Nouveau furniture
• A combination of many European styles
• The diversity of art nouveau is particularly found in furniture
• In general, 3 developments can be made out:
• The natural form designs in France and Belgium
• Geometric shape and pattern in Austria
• The formal art nouveau in Germany
• Most Art Nouveau furniture was based around the greatly influential
designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh
• Inspired by Japanese art.

30. Side chair, Edward Colonna 1899, Palissander, upholstery
Chairs

31. Chairs
Hector Guimard, c 1900

32. Mahogany
Chair /
Victor
Horta / c.
1900
Chaise
Emile
Gallé
(1846-
1904)
Nancy,
vers 1904
Noyer
mouluré
et sculpté,
ajouré,
garniture
en peau

33. Chaise en Acajou par Gaillard.
C.1900
Chaise en Poirier et cuir grave

34. Chaise rappelant
le second empire
avant 1880

35. "Aux
Ombelles"
Émile Gallé
(1846-1904)
Carved
Mahogany
with
Upholstered
Seat. Nancy,
France. Circa
1900.
Chaise de
Gaillard,
Exposition
1900

36. A French Art Nouveau carved mahogany armchair by Jacques
Gruber. Exhibited at the Exposition de l'Ecole de Nancy in
1903
An "Art Nouveau" armchair with carved mahogany depicting
flowers and leaves, off-white fabric upholstered.

37. Armchair Designed by Henri-Jules-Ferdinand Bellery-
Desfontaines, ca. 1905, Walnut, brass, copper, and cotton,
wool, and silk tapestry

38. Hector Guimard, Fauteuil, Paris c. 1898, at the Musée
d'Orsay.
French Art Nouveau Beach Wood Armchairs by Louis
Majorelle

39. This very unusual French walnut corner sofa dates to circa
1904 and is attributed it to the important workshops of Louis
Majorelle.
Sofa For The 1900 Paris Exhibition

40. Tables
A French Art Nouveau two-tier tri-cornered table by Louis
Majorelle, featuring bronze sabots adorning the feet and a
bronze edge encircling the top tier.
A French Art Nouveau two-tied table with gilt-bronze floral
mounts by Louis Majorelle. Circa 1904

41. An extremely rare and important French Art
Nouveau tea table by, Emile Gallé decorated
with inlaid exotic wood marquetry depicting
various flora with beautifully carved organic
legs embellished with beautiful leaf
decoration and further decorated with bronze
dragonfly handles

42. French Art Nouveau serving table
signed by Emile Galle. The table is
composed of walnut decorated
with inlaid and incised floral
designs and rests upon four
convex scroll legs beneath a tray-
form top with filigree gallery
corners and a drawer.

43. Emile Gallé / Set of Nesting Tables
Marquetry Mahogany

44. An extremely fine and rare carved wood and
inlaid marquetry single drawer "Magnolia" desk
decorated with inlaid exotic wood marquetry of
blooming magnolias with a beautifully carved
floral border and beautifully carved legs . The
desk is signed, "L. Majorelle"

45. ART NOUVEAU DRAGONFLY TABLE BY EMILE GALLE

46. Two drawers sideboard console cabinet Art Nouveau solid oak
in the style of Louis Majorelle
Art Nouveau walnut corner console

47. French Art Nouveau walnut two section dining table resting
upon four flared legs united by a buttress stretcher. This table
was crafted by Gaillard

49. A large Art Nouveau carved mahogany and leather Partners
desk circa 1900
Eugene Vallin Art Nouveau desk.

50. This Art Nouveau desk by Louis Majorelle features carved vine
leaves and grapes detailing all around it and at the bottom of
the feet.. As such it could be positioned against a wall or in the
middle of a room. The tabletop is inset with leather and the
drawers lock and open with an original brass key.
A French Art Nouveau walnut desk by Maurice Dufrène
in pear wood with bronze handles in a seashell motif,
circa 1900

51. Hector Guimard
Storage
The three door armoire is composed of walnut inlaid with
spectacularly naturalistic floral designs characteristic of the era.
The piece also features a lower shelf and top with spindle sides

52. Cabinet-vitrine, 1899. Designed by Gustave
Serrurier-Bovy Red narra wood, ash, copper,
enamel, glass
The cabinet is composed
of mahogany, walnut, and
multiple exotic woods,
and is decorated with
floral inlay, inlaid Mother
of Pearl, and various
naturalistic carvings
characteristic of the era.
The top portion features
two shelved areas as well
as two glass door
cabinets, with the lower
features side shelves, a
cabinet, and three
drawers finished with
bronze handles

53. A French Art Nouveau marquetry cabinet by Louis Majorelle
with depictions of iris flowers on the front panel.
Art Nouveau carved wood with mahogany and exotic wood
marquetry cabinet by, Louis Majorelle decorated with carved
flora, marquetry scenic landscape and decorated door.

54. Art Nouveau - Coiffeuse - Acajou - Léon Benouville Coiffeuse Art Nouveau. Vers 1900 Chêne blond, laiton martelé,
doré et polychrome

55. A French Art Nouveau desk by Emile Gallé, featuring a
fruitwood marquetry writing surface, circa 1895
A French Art Nouveau games table by Emile Gallé, featuring
inlaid marquetry when closed and open, circa 1902

56. Art Nouveau - Lit à Tablettes 'Chevets' Intégrées - Eugène Vallin
- 1900 | JV
Art Nouveau - Lit - Louis Majorelle
Beds

57. Émille Gallé, Aube et Crépuscule, Bed, 1900

60. Lighting

62. Louis Majorelle wrought iron base in a leafage pattern, with
Daum Nancy glass shade
4 gilt bronze ceiling lights and blue mottled glass

65. Doors

69. Tiles

71. Patterns

72. Stained Glass