Autodidact, Jules Wabbes started his career as a photographer before turning to antiques and interior decorating, eventually establishing his own atelier during the 50s where he gradually emerged as one of Belgium's leading figures in furniture design.
His keen eye as an antiques collector quickly garnered Jules Wabbes acclaim in well-to-do circles in and around Brussels, allowing him to open an atelier to expand and restore pieces that spoke to him. Quite naturally collecting developed into designing and Wabbes started to create custom pieces for clients in the early 50s.
International recognition followed quickly during the Milan Triennials in the late 50s and the celebrated Expo 58, eventually bringing Wabbes to create his first furniture company under the moniker of "Mobilier Universel". He began furnishing embassies, banks and office spaces with emblematic designs including his wengé scrap marquetry pieces and his brass honeycomb lamps. Through his many travels to the USA, Mobilier Universel also allowed Wabbes to bring iconic American designs to Europe by producing them locally to the highest possible standards.
The designer's exacting approach to furniture production and near obsession with superlative quality would end up becoming incompatible with the development of Mobilier Universel, leading them to part ways. In 1969 Wabbes founded General Decoration instead to design, produce and distribute his lamps, furniture and accessories in line with his quality principles. Today, General Decoration remains the only official company distributing Jules Wabbes.
