The National Art and History Museum (MNHA) has launched an appeal for pieces from furniture designer Lou Hammerel for their upcoming Art Déco Exhibition next year.

Lou Hammerel, from Esch-sur-Alzette, was certainly one of the first interior architects in Luxembourg at the time, very modern in his day. His interior decorations and furniture a luxurious, art-deco style inspired by French models.

As early as 1928, Lou Hammerel, who was still working in Paris, organised in his father's workshop in Esch, an exhibition of his drawings and furniture. In 1929 Lou Hammerel took part in the second Luxembourger Secession exhibition in the Luxembourg Cercle municipal. Together with Michel Haagen and Michel Heintz, he represented the field of applied art.

In addition, Lou Hammerel exhibited a total of five interior displays in pastel or watercolour technique, including the project drawing for a luxurious Art Deco dining room, as well as some furniture designs.

Haagen, Heintz and Hammerel also participated in the joint exhibition of the Secession and the Cercle artistique.

Unfortunately, the fate of the designs is unknown. It is also not known whether the realized ensembles whose owners are listed in the catalogues with their initials and the place of residence are or are still being used.

Within the framework of the Art Déco exhibition planned for the coming year, the National Museum aims at completing the knowledge of this innovative furniture designer and interior designer from Luxembourg, who, despite his early death at the age of only 22 years, has decisively influenced Luxembourgish furniture art. Any drawing signed by Lou Hammerel, or even a piece of furniture, but also photographs made in the 1920s or 1930s, showing his interiors, would be of great value.

Please contact Ulrike Degen in the National Museum (MNHA), Department of Crafts and Folk Art, tel.: 47 93 30 313 or write via email: ulrike.degen@mnha.etat.lu