Born in 1883 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, a suburb of Paris, Jules Leleu would become a renowned French Art Deco furniture and lighting designer. He achieved fame by skillfully blending modernism with classical elements in his designs. In particular, he was celebrated for his use of simplified shapes, exotic woods, marquetry, and ivory inlays. After studying decorative painting, Leleu took over his father's painting business with his brother, Marcel, at the age of twenty-six. Leleu served in the air force during World War I and later returned to open Maison Leleu, a gallery where he dedicated himself to furniture craftsmanship.
In 1925, Leleu gained significant recognition by winning the grand prize at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels. His reputation continued to grow and he undertook notable projects such as designing ocean liners like the S.S. Ile de France and S.S. Normandie, as well as creating furnishings for various French embassies worldwide and the Grand Salon of the Ambassadors at the Society of Nations in Geneva. Following his passing in Paris in 1961, Leleu's children André, Jean, and Paule assumed control of the family business.
