Raphaël Raffel, known simply as Raphaël, trained at Maison Jansen between 1929 and 1934. His style flourished after the war and evolved with the use of new materials such as lacquer and, from 1953, glass for furniture bases following the Securit competition. He combined materials whose luxury and exquisite cabinetmaking execution were always tied to functionality, comfort, and even ergonomics. For fabric and tapestry patterns he collaborated with René Fumeron, for ceramics with Georges Jouve, for decorative bronzes with Georges Levy-Mazaud, and naturally with Paul-Étienne Saïn and Henri Tambuté for their so-called Béka lacquer—patented in 1948—in exclusive tones of almond green, deep red, with clouded textures and golden nuances.

Raphaël exhibited at the Salon des Arts Ménagers from 1939 and at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs from 1955. At the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair he was invited alongside Dumond, Arbus, Adnet, Sognot, Richard, Leleu, Motte, and Old. During the 1960s, Raphaël worked mainly for large public administrations. His highly personal style evolved gradually: wall lights were then crafted in gilt bronze by Agostini or Durantet, veneer wood disappeared entirely, giving way almost systematically to glass bases for furniture, or alternatively to metal or Béka lacquer.