Majorelle & Daum
The Nénuphar Lamp, an Icon of Art Nouveau
March, 25, 2026
On March 25, 2026, during its dedicated sale of 20th-century Decorative Arts, the Tajan auction house will present a rare Nénuphar lamp, a product of the iconic collaboration between Louis Majorelle and the Daum company, two key figures of the École de Nancy.
Designed at the very beginning of the 20th century, this lamp embodies the spirit of Art Nouveau: a harmonious blend of nature, movement, and light. Majorelle, a master of plant-inspired furniture, designed the overall form of the piece and its bronze elements, while the Daum brothers created the delicate multi-layered engraved glass shade. The partnership between the two workshops, initiated in 1898, led to some of the finest French decorative creations of the early 20th century.
First presented at the Salon des artistes français in 1902, and then at the Exposition de l’École de Nancy at the Pavillon de Marsan in 1903, the Nénuphar lamp was immediately celebrated for the perfection of its lines and the poetry of its light. The model offered for sale features a bronze base adorned with three frogs, facing the stem from which a luminous flower blooms, made of blown and hot-molded glass in soft shades of pale pink and yellow. An exceptional piece, symbolizing refinement and the craftsmanship of Nancy, the Nénuphar lamp remains one of the most poetic creations of Art Nouveau. Variants of this model are now housed in the collections of the Musée d’Orsay and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, highlighting the importance of this light fixture in the history of decorative arts.
This lamp exemplifies the fruitful dialogue between creativity and functionality, revealing how, at the turn of the 20th century, craftsmen and artists like the Daum brothers and Louis Majorelle were able to elevate everyday objects to the level of works of art.
20TH CENTURY DECORATIVE ARTS & DESIGN
Auction on March 25, 2026
CONTACTS
Marie-Cécile Michel – 20th Century Decorative Arts & Design Director
+33 1 53 30 30 58 – [email protected]
Press and Photos
Ariane de Miramon – Marketing & Communication Director
+33 1 53 30 30 68 – [email protected]