Louis Majorelle’s Gilt Walnut ‘Aux Pins’ Display Cabinet

This gilt vitrine “aux pins” by Louis Majorelle is a masterpiece in Art Nouveau design. The gilt finish and simplicity of line that unifies the piece lend it a refined elegance, making it the perfect frame for carefully selected objets d’art. Louis Majorelle’s father Auguste had specialized in 18th-century style furniture, including the chinoiserie so loved in the court of Louis XVI. Louis Majorelle experimented with the pine motif at the same time as Rene Lalique. Both looked to East Asian Art for inspiration. In East Asian culture, the pine was a symbol of longevity used to celebrate court officials and emperors.