*Biography: George De Feure
1868-1943. Born in Belgium and worked in France most of his life.
(Real name: George Van Sluijters)

De Feure was aversatile artist and designer, who created paintings, fine furniture, sevres porcelain and pottery, art glass, glass windows, carpeting, silverware and jewelry as well as many well known graphic arts and posters. He was also a set designer and interior designer.

He began as an apprentice in the book trade in the Hague, where he became acquainted with symbolism. He became so strongly influenced by Pierre Cecile Puvis de Chavannes, that in 1890 he moved to Paris to become a pupil of Jules Cheret.

Under Jules Cheret he designed posters for the Salon Des Cent, Loie Fuler and Thermes Liegois.

His paintings were exhibited at the Societé Nationale in 1894, in the Salon de la Rose Croix of 1893 and 1894, and at the 1896 Munich Secession. At this time, he was also designing interiors and held the post of 'Professor of Decorative Arts' at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Some of De Feure's best works are posters done in the Art Nouveau style. These usually contain stylish young women and emphasize the colors brown, green, and rose. The elegance of these popular images caused Lady Abdy to name De Feure "the poet of the poster."

His first commissions were illustrations and set designs. Famed art dealer, Samuel Bing (1838-1905) then entered De Feure's life. Bings gallery, " L'Art Nouveau ", is credited with naming the style, Art Nouveau. His Paris gallery and workshop was established in December, 1895.

Siegfried, also known as Samuel, Bing discovered De Feure after seeing many of his paintings were featured in the Paris salons. De Feure attracted Bing's attention through his illustrations for Parisian periodicals and his poster designs

He specializes in images of seductive femmes fatales dressed in modish gowns and trailing garments that sometimes recalled the kimono clad women in Japanese prints.

During the 1890s, De Feure shifted from painting and print-making to designing crafts, with his first pieces being decorated furniture and ceramics that were shown at the Salon de la National Beaux Arts in 1894. He was known for creating high-end furniture for the elite.

De Feure quickly became one of Bing's top designers. Bing encouraged De Feure to expand his talents to all areas of art and design. Although he never signed an exclusive contract with Bing, he worked principally for the dealer by 1899 while cultivating his own private clientele.

De Feure's furniture work displayed many of the same characteristics as his graphic art; at times he seems to be drawing on the wood, as his chairs and couches are comprised of delicate linear patterns, which frame panels of textiles, also designed by him.

De Feure exhibited and was awarded gold medals at the 1900 Exposition Universelle for the salon grouping that was very similar in design to the suite offered here.

His work was featured in Bing's gallery from 1895 until it closed in 1904, one year prior to Bing's death. In 1902 his work was featured at the first Salon Des Industries Du Mobilier at the Grand Palais in Paris.

For Maison De L'Art Nouveau, George made silverware and metalware in a delicate and lineear style, similar to his graphic work and furniture work done for Bing.

Before the outbreak of WW1, he moved to England where he worked mainly as a set designer. Gifted with a highly inventive mind, George created airplanes as theater sets and costumes.

In 1928 he returned to Paris where he was appointed Professor at the Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaux-Arts. He continued to work during the Art Deco period.

His work is notable for it's delicate filagree ornamentation and pronounced feminine effect, suggesting an elegant sensuality. Capturing the essence of the female spirit became his trademark.

George De Feure was one of the most prolific designers of the Art Nouveau period.

Book References:
Here are just a few books featuring information and photos of De Feure's work; most Art Nouveau books feature numerous pages with information on this well known designer.

Art Nouveau by Alastair Duncan

" LE MOBILIER DU XXe SIECLE, DICTIONNAIRE DES CREATEURS" BY PIERRE KJELLBERG

" ART NOUVEAU" BY GABRIELE FAHR-BECKER

"ART NOUVEAU BING PARIS STYLE 1900" BY WEISBERG & ABRAHMS

"COLLECTOR'S STYLE GUIDE ART NOUVEAU"

"ART NOUVEAU REVOLUTION IN INTERIOR DESIGN" BY ROSSANA BOSSAGLIA

"THE PARIS SALONS 1895-1914 VOLUME III: FURNITURE" BY ALASTAIR DUNCAN

"JUDITH MILLER COLLECTOR'S GUIDES ART NOUVEAU"

"ART NOUVEAU AND ART DECO BOOKBINDING" BY ALASTAIR DUNCAN

"THE ELEMENTS OF DESIGN" EDITED BY NOEL RILEY AND PATRICIA BAYER