Jules Leleu (French 1883-1961) Drinks/Cocktail Cabinet, 1957 signed, numbered '28540' and dated 22 March 1957 on manufacturer's label (to reverse), parquetry, brass inlay, and mother of pearl and ebony inlaid panels depicting butterflies, flowering plants and insects, the top left fall-flap opening to reveal a mirrored compartment (140cm high, 154cm across, 50.5cm deep (55.12in high, 60.6in across, 19.75in deep)) Footnote: For centuries, cabinetmaking has held an important place within any interior setting: a place both to display your aesthetic sensibilities and present your personality to any visitor, which also acts as a safe space to protect your treasures under lock and key. After the Second World War, cabinetmakers enjoyed a new period of stimulating productivity – as they embraced materials previously associated with industrialism and turned them into sinuous pieces of furniture with a focus on functionality. Many notable furniture designers, such as Jules Leleu produced high-quality modern cabinets in this manner, such as our drinks/cocktail cabinet, signed and dated ‘ 22 March 1957 ’. This sleek cabinet, a staple in all luxurious interiors from the mid-twentieth century, perfectly embodies the Mid-Century Modern sensibility. This combination of fine craftmanship and a clear function is typical of the movement, and why it continues to be popular today. Jules Leleu was a celebrated furniture designer from Boulogne-sur-Mer, in the north of France. Born into a family of artists, he took over the family painting business in 1909, and with his brother Marcel added a ‘decoration’ branch. The following year, they added a cabinetmaking atelier to the enterprise, which became known as ‘Maison Leleu’ in 1924. The years 1948 to 1970 was a time of great production for the family business, who frequently showed at salons and designed furniture for nobility across the world, including Prince Pierre of Monaco, Prince Takatma Tsu of Japan, and the King of Romania. The company produced numerous examples of modern design that featured simple shapes, exotic woods, and inlay that perfectly encapsulated the eras interest in the combination of both form and function. High-quality cabinets produced by noted furniture makers from the mid-twentieth century remain as popular today as the time of the conception. Pieces by Leleu remain in high demand for their quality and craftmanship, with pieces being held in notable international collections such as the Musée des Arts Décoratives in Paris, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.