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French Art Deco Rosewood Cabinet with Animal Motif + Mother-of-Pearl Inlay in the Manner of Jules Leleu, 1940s
A rare French Art Deco cabinet from the 1940s, crafted in rosewood and executed in the manner of Jules Leleu.
At first glance, the form is clean and architectural—balanced proportions, geometric paneling, and a quietly commanding silhouette. But the closer you move, the more it reveals. Across the façade, intricate marquetry unfolds in a woodland scene: deer hidden among foliage, birds perched within the trees, a landscape rendered in layered veneers and warm, shifting tones. It is the kind of detail you notice slowly, and then can’t stop looking at.
Mother-of-pearl inlay traces the vertical mounts and punctuates the doors with small flashes of light, adding a subtle iridescence against the depth of the rosewood. The contrast between restraint and ornament is what makes the piece so compelling—disciplined in shape, but rich in narrative.
Inside, the cabinet is equally considered. Glass shelves above offer space for display, while the lower cupboard opens to generous storage with two rows of shelving concealed behind paneled doors. The original hardware remains intact, and the cabinet is accompanied by three keys.
Our team of in-house restorationists spent over 14 hours refinishing the piece by hand, carefully stripping back the old finish and rebuilding it to restore clarity and depth to the wood without compromising its age or character. The result is luminous rather than glossy, allowing the grain, marquetry, and inlaid details to come forward beautifully.
This is the sort of piece that changes a room entirely—functional, yes, but also deeply decorative. Rare to find, and even rarer to find complete, restored, and ready to live with.
DIMENSIONS: 44"W x 16.5"D x 58.5"H
ORIGIN: France
PERIOD: 1940s
MATERIALS: Wood,Glass,Rosewood,Mother of Pearl
CONDITION:
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