Alexandre Noll

Alexandre Noll (1902-1970) was a renowned French sculptor and artist, celebrated for his unique contributions to woodworking and furniture design. Born in 1902 to Alsatian parents in the town of Nogent-sur-Marne, Noll was initially trained as a multidisciplinary artist. During World War I, he produced a number of sketches and watercolors as well as wood engravings, which would ultimately define his later practice. The creation of parasol handles and lamp bases in wood for designer Paul Poiret after the war decidedly sealed his commitment to woodworking. In 1925, Noll exhibited a series of sculpted objects at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes and in 1927 he began to exhibit at the Crémaillère, a gallery devoted to emerging artists.

In 1935, Alexandre Noll started to create his first “furniture sculptures,” which consisted of blocks of one specific wood, primarily ebony, sycamore, mahogany and teak. The inclusion of his wood sculptured in international exhibitions, such as the 1937 Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques, the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs of 1939 and at Milan’s Triannale of 1940, helped him gain wide acclaim and notoriety.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Noll perfected his style, which went against the mass production tendencies of his time and instead favored a pure and noble approach to craftsmanship. Noll's woodworking style is characterized by a blend of abstract and naturalistic forms, often sinuous and sensual, beautifully rendered in wood. His artistic journey was significantly influenced by his travels, particularly to Africa and the South Pacific, where he drew inspiration from indigenous art forms and cultures. He is now best remembered for the numerous sculptures, furniture pieces and small objects that he left behind, influencing an entire generation of woodworkers and craftsmen.