Born in 1912, Henri Lancel was a leading figure in French interior design and furniture design during the mid-20th century. Trained in cabinetmaking in his father’s Paris workshop, he quickly turned to architecture and interior decoration, becoming one of the most influential ensembliers (interior architects) of his time.

From 1954, Henri Lancel designed over 150 furniture models for the Printemps department stores, all bearing the MAF (Mobilier Artistique Français) label and his signature. His success led him to collaborate with the publisher Lévitan the following year, for whom he created the « Boimétal » and « Boilavable » collections—innovative lines that embodied the modernity of post-war French furniture.

His reputation earned him prestigious commissions, including the interior design of the legendary SS France ocean liner, completed in 1960. Among his most notable works are the furnishings for the Jean Zay University Residence in Antony, designed for the CROUS of the Versailles Academy. These pieces, often made of beech and thermoformed ash plywood, showcase his ability to blend functionality, durability, and sleek aesthetics.

Henri Lancel passed away in 1976, leaving behind a legacy of designs that shaped the history of French modernism, seamlessly merging innovation with craftsmanship