Information on Artists and Sculptors (Page 1 – A to F)

Popular Artists

I am unable to reply to emails seeking information on Art Deco artists so I have put all my knowledge gained over 40+ years into one place. I will be updating this page from time to time when new information becomes available and if you have information on Art Deco artists that I don’t have, please email it to me at info@sheryls-artdeco.com. Once verified, I will place on these pages.

There are a few publications available with knowledge of founders and sculptors – of which notable are: Art Deco and other Figures by Bryan Catley, Dictionary of Sculptors in Bronze by James Mackay, Chiparus – Master of Art Deco by Alberto Shayo, Bronzes, Sculptors and Founders by Berman (Schiffer Books), also by Schiffer – Art Deco Sculpture and Metalware by Alfred W. Edward and Art Deco Sculpture by Victor Arwas. Some of these books I have for sale on the website.


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Parasol Bleu – William Ablett
1926 Etching with aquatint published by l’Estampe Moderne in Paris.

Ablett, William (1877 – 1937)
English painter, designer and engraver who lived in Paris most of his life. At the age of 20 he entered the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts as a foreign student and was a regular exhibitor at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts from 1910 to 1936. He began working with engravings during the early 1920s for magazines and reviews of which generally his works were of female figures related to fashion and the decorative arts.

In 1920 Ablett began working in prints and became one of the finest artists and interpreters of the Boudoir style of art, most famously popularised by his contemporaries Louis Icart, Jean Hardy and Paul Emile Felix.

In 1930, he became a Chevalier de Legion d’Honneur, and was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts. He was fatally injured in a car accident near the Bois de Boulogne, and died the following morning at Beaujon Hospital.


Jacques
Jean in 1944

Adnet brothers, Jacques (1900 – 1984) & Jean (1900 – 1995)
Jacques was a French interior designer & architect born in Chatillon-Cologny in 1900. Trained at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs Paris. He worked with Selmersheim and Rapin and Dufrane, selling his items which included modernist furniture and lighting through La Maitrise and Saddler.

He lived and worked with his Twin brother Jean until 1928 when he took over the firm of Sue et Mare. During the 1950’s he created furniture and his works were commissioned for UNESCO and other prestigious buildings, including at the Elysée Palace.

Often worked in collaboration with his twin brother Jean who was the display manager for galleries Lafayette and their joint works were marked JJ Adnet. Little information is known on Jean.


Aichele, Paul (1870 – 1940)
Born in Germany he first exhibited at the Berlin Art Exhibition of 1891, showing a statuette of a Bacchante. The following year he became a member of the German Academy of Arts. Subsequently he participated in the Berlin exhibitions, the Crystal Palace Exhibition in Munich and the Dusseldorf Arts Exhibition, mainly genre and allegorical figures.

Aladin

As of November 2023 we believe Aladin to be a pseudonym of Pierre Traverse. We were contacted by The family of Pierre Traverse who were kind enough to share an in depth document they had created detailing his life work. On the very last page, almost as an afterthought, were 3 pictures of ceramic statues and a note that during the 1920s and 1930s he made these “small objects”. The document also describe these ceramic statues as his “food” works (his bread and butter).

I immediately recognised one of the statues to be by Aladin and contacted the Traverse family to ask if they were aware that the statues they had shown were by Aladin and did they know if Aladin was a pseudonym used by Pierre Traverse. After a quick conversation between the family we received the reply “That is correct”.

Aladin items are top quality and they produced items such as – figural ink pots, ink stands, night lights, statues, flacons, perfume lamps and ashtrays. Aladin also produced pieces designed by various designers and some of the statuary artists – Leyritz, Roser, Godard, Bever and Kelety to name a few.

Many pieces were unmarked, some marked Aladin or Aladin Luxe and also some marked AR. Aladin items are now highly sought after worldwide.


Alliot – Lucien Charles Edouard (1877 – 9 March 1967 in Nanteuil-lès-Meaux, France)

Alliot was born on the 16th on November, 1877 in Paris. He died in 1967. He was a pupil of Louis Ernest Barrias and Jules Felix Coutan. Alliot was well known for his figurative sculptures which he exhibited from 1905 until 1934 at the Salon de Paris – receiving a third place award in 1907 and first place in 1920. When he finished exhibiting he became a jury member at the Salon evaluating sculptural works from 1934 to 1939.

He produced items made of spelter, terracotta, ceramics, bronze and ivory (chryselephantine) and bronze. Used the pseudonym Luce.


Alonzo, Dominique
female artist – born in Paris in the late 19th century. She was a pupil of Falguiere and exhibited her works at the Salon des Artistes Francais from 1912 until 1926. Most of her statues were small and art nouveau but she did produce a few deco pieces.

ATO – Leon Hatot (1883 – 1953)
ATO is short for Hatot (Leon Hatot). He was a French clock maker and is famous for producing one of the first battery operated clocks in the 1920s. He patented the classic form of pendulum which used a magnet and coils to impulse the pendulum. This is done by the current from the first coil switching a transistor which supplies a larger current to the second coil at the right moment.

Lalique supplied some of the glass panels for some of his clocks. He used various materials to produce his clocks, marble, onyx, bakelite, wood and glass. Most of his clocks are very stylish and deco and although the batteries are no longer available to power them – a good clock man can usually do a conversion to a modern battery. Ato clocks are now highly sought after world wide.

Argentor Werke
The firm Argentor Werke was located in Wimbergerstraße, in one of the inner districts of Vienna, a site where different metal-ware companies gathered together. It was the custom at the time for companies with reputation to invite artists to create designs which then were to be cast.

Argy-Rousseau, Gabriel (1885 – 1953)
Master craftsman and famous for his handcrafted pate de verre techniques – unlike many other glass decorators he never mass produced. Studied at the National High School for Ceramics in Sevres in 1902, completed a degree and first exhibited his work in Pate de Verre in 1914 at the Salon des Artistes.

Pate de verre consists of powdered glass molded and then fused by heat. Changed his name to his wife’s maiden name in 1913. Diplayed at most of the Paris Salons in the 1920’s. His work is highly sought after today and fetches a high premium.


Artus
The Pseudonym used by Max Le Verrier on his early 1920’s bird statues. Nobody knows why Max used this Pseudonym and it was only on his very early pieces.


Bachelet, Emile Just
Born in Nancy, France on January 2, 1892. He studied in Nancy and Paris – where he also exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Francais in 1920. He was awarded a gold medal at the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs in 1925 for a bas-relief in the Nancy Pavilion. A Societaire of the Salon d’Automne, he exhibited at the Salon from 1926 – 1938.

He specialised in busts, figures, animals and small groups. He also exhibited at the Nationale and became an associate in 1929 and a member in 1933. Best known works were Piete Danseuse and Foal. He worked in bronze, spelter, terracotta and porcelain. Many of his works are on display in the Museums of Nancy and Epinal.

Bakelite – Dr Leo Baekland (1863 – 1944)
Belgian scientist, emigrated to the USA in 1889, hoping for better career opportunities. In 1907 he was working as an independent chemist when he accidentally discovered the compound of carbolic acid and formaldehyde. When he tried to reheat the solidified compound he discovered it would not melt, no matter how high the temperature. He was later able to trademark Bakelite as well as two other variations catalin and marblette which today are also referred to as bakelite.

Bakelite was the first synthetic plastic. Because of its durability and beauty its uses seemed endless, and it grew in popularity very quickly. Everything from electrical plugs, car dashboards, early radios and ornate jewellery were made from bakelite. It could be produced in a wide array of colours, but most common were white, brown, green and red. As a result of this invention, Dr Baekeland is seen as the father of the present plastic industry; costume jewellery from the 1920’s-1940’s bakelite era is now highly sought after.


Baker, Josephine (1906 – 1975)
born 3 June 1906, St. Louis, Missouri, USA and died on 12th April 1975 in Paris. Her birth name was Freda Josephine McDonald.
Her early life hinted at her future career. She first danced for the public on the streets of St. Louis for nickels and dimes. Later she became a chorus girl on the St. Louis stage. At age 15 she married Pullman porter William Howard Baker, but left him when she ran away from St. Louis at age 17, feeling there was too much racial discrimination in the city. She eventually made her way to Paris, France. Her first job in Paris was in “La revue negre”. Her next significant job was at the Folies Bergere, where she was a member of the club’s all-black revue. It was there, in 1925, that she first performed her famous “banana dance”. She quickly became a favourite of the French, and her fame grew, but she had many ups and downs during her career. Although popular in France, during the “Red Scare” era of the 1950s, instigated by ultra-right-wing US Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI), she was falsely accused of being a Communist and informed that she was no longer welcome in the US (in 1937 she had renounced her American citizenship, utterly disgusted by the blatant and official racism against blacks, and became a French citizen).

In 1961 Josephine was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award. In the late 1960s she began having financial difficulties, and stopped performing in 1968. Grace Kelly, who by that time had married Prince Rainier of Monaco and was now known as Princess Grace of Monaco, offered her a home in Monaco when she learned of Josephine’s financial problems.

At the request of Princess Grace, Josephine performed at Monaco’s summer ball in 1974 and was a great success. That same year she staged a week of performances in New York City and called the show “An Evening with Josephine Baker”. She had just begun a Paris revue celebrating her half-century on the stage when on April 10, 1975, she was stricken with a cerebral haemorrhage and went into a coma. She died without regaining consciousness. Her funeral was held in Paris, and she was buried in Monaco.


Balleste, Enrique Molins-Balleste (1893 – 1958)
born in Barcelona, a Spanish artist who later moved to Paris. It would appear that Molins and Balleste are one and the same artist and he would use either Molins or Balleste to sign his pieces. Some same figures are signed Molins whilst the other is signed Balleste. Often signed his name as BAL. Famous for his theatrical and genre groups and figural lighting. Also made many sculptures using wood as the medium.


Barbier, George
Frenchman considered by many to be one of the most significant artists of tour era, his paintings resurrect the spirit of the 1920’s. His first exhibition was in 1911 and his range was wide. He illustrated books for adults and children, costumes for the theatre, ballet, cinema and fashion magazines and calendars. He was a member of the Societe des Artistes Decorateurs and also designed jewellery, glass, fabric and wall paper. He was also a writer and wrote essays for the Gazette du Bon Ton between 1915 – 1925. He lived a short life and died in 1932 at the age of 50.


Barrias, Louis Ernest  (1841 – 1905)
Born in Paris to a talented artistic family, his father worked in porcelain and his brother Felix-Joseph Barrias was a famous painter. He was a French sculptor of the Beaux-Arts school. Louis studied with many different materials including oil painting, wood carving, stone bronze, marble and bronze and ivory. He was a student of the Paris Ecole des Beaux Arts in 1858 working under the tuition of Francois Jouffrey.

He produced many famous pieces including the Le Sermentdeo Spartacus which he made in 1872, it now stands in the grounds of The Tuileries Gardens in Paris. Many of his works were earlier but he did some art nouveau pieces and many tomb stones for famous people.

When his teacher Cavelier dies, Barrias took his place as Profesor of the Paris Ecole des beaux arts and one of his students was Ary Bitter and Delagrange.

Barriassâs most famous piece was Nature revealing herself before Science – 1899. This statue was made in several sizes and materials such as bronze, bronze and ivory (chryselephantine), ivory and I believe alabaster. In 1865 Barrias won the Prix de Rome for study at the French Academy in Rome. Barrias was involved in the decoration of the Paris Opéra and the Hôtel de la Païva in the Champs-Élysées.


Barol, Jean (1873 – 1966)
French ceramics artist worked for the family run company of Clement Massier. The Massier company started in 1707 and was handed down to family members. It was famous for its metallic lustre glazes. Barol was the founder of the BACS ceramics company in Cannes, where they perfected a new technique for applying high fired enamel (cloisonne) to metallic luster glazed items. He left Bacs in 1917 and joined Monteries producing similar wares. He rejoined Bacs in 1920 where he remained until 1927.

Bastard Georges (1881 – 1939)
French Dinandier. studied at the Ecole des arts decoratifs and then at his Fathers atelier. He produced items from rare woods, ivory macassar, mother-of pearl, horn and semi-precious stone, and collaborated with Montagnac and Ruhlmann on several pieces shown at the 1925 Paris Exposition. He was later made the director of Sevres porcelain company where he produced among other things a Robj style flacon series of bottles of sportsmen which are now highly sought after and very rare.

Bauhaus (1919 – 1933)
The German Bauhaus design school was founded by the architect Walter Gropius. Its members included engineers, designers, painters, sculptors and architects, who sought to relate form to function and aesthetic qualities to the demands of machine production, producing good quality household items mainly art deco in design.


Bayes, Gilbert (1872 – 1953)
Sculptor whose work spanned the Arts and Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modernism.

He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1889, and then continued to work up to his death in 1953. Widely respected during his lifetime and President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors for many years, he was well known for his enthusiasm for public sculpture and for a close association between sculpture and architecture. As a result, work by Bayes can be seen in many parts of Britain, in France, Switzerland and Australia but he was above all a London sculptor.

Major works by him to be seen in London include the Queen of Time clock above the main entrance to Selfridges in Oxford Street, the frieze on the Saville Theatre (now a cinema) in Shaftesbury Avenue and the large panel outside Lords Cricket Ground.

Most notably, the frieze on Doulton House on the Albert Embankment, the building being completed in 1939 and demolished in 1979.

Other examples of his work are at the BBC, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Merchant Taylors’ Hall, the headquarters of the London Fire Brigade and the Law Society. In addition, Bayes carried out many commissions for private clients, in wood, ivory, bronze, stone and concrete, as well as in ceramic.

By far the greatest Art Deco sculptor in Britain, Bayes developed a characteristic style that is now highly evocative of its period. He was also responsible for more public sculpture between the wars than any other artist working in Britain, and so it is entirely fitting that his greatest, and most decorative, work should be on permanent display at the Victoria and Albert Museum.


Bazin, Francois Victor (1897 – 1956)
Born Paris, his parents were copper engravers and medalists. He spent his childhood in Chile, where his father taught Fine Arts in Santiago. He studied in Paris in 1913 at the Arts Decoratifs and the Superior School of Fine Arts. In January 1916 he was conscripted, he joined the SPAD fighter squadron 164 squadron whose aircraft have engines by Hispano Suiza. Francois was contacted after the war by the same company to create the radiator cap, their future cars taking the bird adorning the cabins of the victorious squadron of Guynemer. The motor company of Hispano Suiza featured the Bazin stork car mascot in 1920. Between 1920 and 1935 Bazin created a large number of automobile radiator caps including the Stork for Hispano Suiza, Head Woman Mangbetu for Citroen Black Cruise, the flying winged man for Isotta Fraschini, an elephant head for Latil and the Centaur unicorn, plus many more.

After the war he completed his studies and was runner-up for the Prix de Rome in 1925. Winner of numerous awards (Fine Arts National Award) Francois spent time in Italy at the Villa Medici, Greece, Egypt (1929) and Madagascar (1956) where he created his statues, and some portraits in charcoal. Although not a Breton many of his works can be seen in Brittany including The Cross of Pen-Hir, the monument at the Pointe de Pen Hir and the Filles de la mer statue at Quimper. He died in Paris in 1956. Bazin pieces are now highly sought after and collected worldwide. They now realise top prices.
Above are some examples of his work and top left in his atelier preparing the central figure for his memorial to the Free French of Breton.


Bazor, Lucien
born Paris 18th January 1889. Pupil of his father Albert Bazor, later he attended the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts where he studied under Patey. BAZOR exhibited at the Salons of the Societe des Artistes Francais and won the Great Prize of Rome in 1923. From 1930 until 1958 he worked as chief engraver for coins.

Bazzoni, Alberto (1889 – 1973)
Italian artist, attended the Academia in Parma and studied under the Sculptor Gino Spalmach. Executed many war memorials after the first world war. During 1928-1931 he decorated the central station in Milan. In 1936 he produced the famous relief ‘The fall of Lucifer’ in the Milanese Palace of Justice. He worked until just after the second world war. He is famous for his stylised modernist works which are all of exceptional quality. In my opinion – a genius.

Beaufils, Émile Jean Armel-Beaufils (1882- 1952)
French sculptor born in Rennes and originally studied law and literature but also attended the Rennes Ếcole des Beaux-Arts until 1905 before moving to the Ếcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He exhibited his work at the Salon des Artistes Français and won a bronze and silver medal. He continued to exhibit every year between 1921 and 1951.

After the first world war he worked on several war memorials and commemorative memorials around Brittany and several commemorative memorials.

From 1929 he was involved in the production of porcelain figures in the Henriot Quimper faience factory. He was married to a fellow sculptor Zannic Armel-Beaufils (1892-1978).


Becquerel, Andre-Vincent
French, 1893 – 1981 Born at St. Andre-Farivilliers, he studied under Hector Lemaire and Prosper Lecourtier. He specialised in animal and children sculptures, showing a marked preference for predator, feline and ornithological subjects, which he exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Francais from 1914 to 1922 and where he became a lifetime member. Worked mainly in bronze and bronze and ivory. Famous for his children studies and Venetian ladies.


Bengel, Jakob (1848 – 1921)
famous for his art deco jewellery items made mainly from chrome and galalith, otherwise known as Schmuck. His company was based in Idar-Oberstein Germany and his designs are famous for their Bauhaus modernist styling. Galalith has been described as a synthetic material with unlimited possibilities and jewellery was certainly one of them, it was also used for buttons and boxes and many other items. It is made from a resin produced from casein milk and formaldehyde. Gala – is greek for milk and lithos – is stone hence the name Galalith.

Galalith jewellery was also produced in France and the Bengel company also exported worlwide. Many top designers worked for the company and the workers were highly skilled and trained mechanics and tool makers. Unfortunately the factory ceased production due to the second world war when jewellery production came to a halt and the machines were used for the war effort.

In recent years pattern books and unused pieces of jewellery have been discovered and we are now becoming aware of the extent of the items his firm designed and produced. Much of the original stock was unsold and left and forgotten, sealed away in time capsules at the factory and other outlets and has now been found and appears on the market. These items are therefore new/old stock and usually in extremely good condition. Many of the items on my site are from these sources.

There are two official books on Bengel jewellery. One called Art Deco Schmuck – Jakob Bengel Idar-oberstein Germany written by Christiana Weber. The other is Bengel Art Deco Schmuck, By Willy Linderman – Arnoldsche. Today Jakob Bengel’s wonderful jewellery is highly sought after by collectors worldwide and some of the top pieces command a high price. Check out my Jakob Bengel section for examples of his work.


Benoit, Georges
20th century artist/sculptor born in Paris and exhibited at the Salon des Independants from 1928-1930 and specialising in mantle clocks and lighting in marble, glass and bronze and produced wonderful animalier statues.

Bergman, Franz Xavier (1861 – 1936)
Austrian artist, produced many early 20th century pieces of mainly Arab influence or subject. Also produced mechanical figures. The most famous of the Viennese ‘cold painted bronze’ artists Franz Bergman delighted in producing Oriental and animal subjects. Recognised for his great attention to detail and wonderful vibrant colours, Bergman had a distinctive signature either a ‘B’ in a vase shape or ‘Nam Greb’ which reads Bergman in reverse. It is said that he used these marks as a ‘nom de plume’ as the subjects of his work were often unquestionably erotic and not to the taste of his family.

Bernard Joseph Antoine (1866 – 1928)
Foremost French sculptor, designed reliefs of dancers for the 1925 Paris Exposition, Pavillon des Collectionueurs. He was given his own exhibition area at the Exhibition and his work is highly sought after.

Bex, Pierre
Pierre Beroux owner of the Pierre Bex jewellery company, Paris. Pierre bought the original moulds, tools and equipment from an original 1920s jewellery company. He recreated items from 1969 until the end of 1980 using the original designs. The factory is now closed, but the very high quality of its production, the use of the original tools and of the best materials give these items a great value. Nearly all the entire stock is now exhausted and is becoming harder to find and highly collectible.

Bitter, Ary Jean Leon (1883 – 1973)
Born in Marseilles, France, Bitter was a leading French sculptor during the inter-war period in France. He was a student of famous Masters and he won many prizes while still a student. In 1914, he created a monumental terracotta sculpture “Exhibition Sculpture” for the food pavilion in the “Exposition National Suisse” in Bern, Switzerland for the company of Nestle. He was responsible for designing many monumental sculptures (eg., Lion et Enfant) which is still in its original location. Exhibiting regularly in the prestigious Salon des Artistes Francais, and other top salons in Paris. Many of his sculptures depicted subjects popular with the Art Deco movement. His work is found in several important museums such as Musee National d’ Art Moderne (Paris), Musee des Beaux-Arts (Marseille), Musee Hector Berlioz, Musee Calouste Gulbenkian (Lisbon), and others. Monumental sculptures are located in Marseille, Cambo-les-bains, Sanary-sur-mer, Bargemon and Barentin. A true Master of his Art. There is a website on Ary Bitter at this address:- http://ary.bitter.free.fr/

Bizard, Susanne
was an early 20th century sculptor, born in St. Amand in France on August the 1st 1873, died in Paris January 21, 1963. She exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Francais from 1900 till 1936. She produced many portrait reliefs, busts, statues of children and genre groups of which Vers’Ideal (1900), Honour and Money (1903) and Diane Attendre are the best known.

Blondat, Max (1879 – 1926)
An Art Nouveau sculptor who also made art deco statues. He was responsible for the creation of many public monuments in the form of tombs, fountains and memorials. Famous for his allegorical subjects, he was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1925. He produced reliefs for the dining room of the Pavillon de l Ambassade in the 1925 Paris Exposition.

Boch Freres, Keramis
The Belgian company of Boch Freres was founded in 1767 at Sept Fontaines in Luxembourg, following a split in the mid 19th century, when Boch Freres, Keramis, in Belgium was set up, It produced earthenware vases, tableware’s and candlesticks. Their wares of the mid-1920’s to the 1940s represent the most important Belgian contribution to the Art Deco movement. Some stonewares were also produced. but most of their pieces from this period were white-bodied. Today Boch Freres items are highly valued and sought after, especially the pieces designed by Charles Catteau or Raymond Chevalier.

Bofill, Antoine
Born Barcelona, Spain, exhibited at Spanish and Paris salons during the 1920’s.

Bonaz, Auguste (1877 – 1922)
French costume jewelry maker, produced stunning contemporary style bone and celluloid deco jewelry. He did his apprenticeship in his Fathers workshop (Auguste Bonaz) in the late 19th century and took over its management in 1900 aided by his wife Marguerite. His wife ran the firm while he fought in the 1st world war. The craft production of ornamental combs, highly fashionable at that time, developed rapidly with the discovery of new materials, namely CELLULOID and GALALITH. In 1922, following the death of Auguste BONAZ, his wife, Marguerite, took over the management of the factory, continuing the production of combs, but also creating GALALITH jewellery, including the necklaces, earrings, Brooches, and bracelets typical of the thirties, as well as wooden boxes. Marguerite BONAZ died in 1927.

Bousquet, Robert (1888 – 1917)
Exhibited at the Paris Salons from 1912 – 1914 and was only 29 when he died. Many of his statues tended to be equestrian themed as is the case with his large Ride of the Valkyrie statue where the horse and lady rider are flying through the air.

Bosse, Walter (1904 – 1979)
Viennese bronze artist, born in Vienna in 1904. Worked for the Wiener Werkstatte and was a member of the Austrian Werkbunde. Produced many small bronze animals and figures similar to Hagenauer and Balle. He was a ceramist artist who worked in metal and ceramics. He produced designs for Goebel and Goldscheider and also produced his own items. Famous for his wall masks.


Bouraine, Marcel Andre (1886 – 1948)
Born in Pontoise (Seine-et Oise, France, a French statuary artist. He was mainly self-taught but also studied under Jean-Alexndre-Joseph Falguiere (1881 – 1900). He was taken prisoner by the Germans during the 1914-1918 war and was interned in Switzerland, where he produced several monuments including one for the town of Lausanne.

Bouraine & Le Verrier working together

In 1922, he exhibited at the Salon des Tuileries and later also exhibited at most of the main Paris salons. After the war he worked until 1935. He executed small-scale sculptures for many French firms, including Susse Freres, Etling, Max Le Verrier and Austria’s Arthur Goldscheider, often exhibiting with the latter’s La Stele and L’Evolution groups. In 1928 Gabriell Argy-rousseau (1885- 1953) commissioned a number of figurines from Bouraine, mainly female nudes, but also a fountain and an illuminated group, all of which were executed in coloured, translucent pate de verre glass.

He executed two major commissions for the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. He is perhaps best known for his bronze figures, but he also produced statues in bronze and ivory (chryselaphantine) and ceramics. Many statues having a classical theme – like Pan, Satyrs, Diana the Huntress or his famous Amazonian Diana with shield and spear. Bouraine used two pseudonyms which were Derenne and Briand and he sometimes signed his pieces A. Bouraine, using his middle name – Andre. These names were used mainly on the non bronze art metal pieces that were produced by his life long friend and foundry owner – Max Le Verrier. Both Le Verrier and Bouraine were life long friends with Pierre Le Faguays and they all frequently worked together. They all studied together at the Beaux Arts in Geneva.

I now own important original documents transferring ownership of statues by Bouraine to the Le Verrier Atelier, signed by both Bouraine and Max Le Verrier.


Bourdelle Emile-Antoine. (1861 – 1929)
A portrait artist and ceramist. Famous or his ceramic wall masks.

Boutarel, Simone
Born in Paris. She exhibited her works at the Paris Salons during the 1920’s and won a silver medal in 1937. She specialised in anamalier groups and busts.

Boutrolle, Rene
Born in Paris, Boutrolle worked as a sculptor, his figures capture the combination of an essence of both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. He exhibited in Paris at the Salon des Artistes Francais and he received a commendation in 1927.


Buthaud, Rene – Important French ceramics artist, painter and engraver. Born in 1886 in Sainte France – he died in December 1986. His style is very recognisable and he drew his inspiration form many sources, many designs are geometric but his best pieces are figural, with stylised women and vegetation portrayed in his own very distinctive style. From 1903 until 1907, he studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Bordeaux and then he pursued his studies in Paris. In 1911, he had work of sufficient quality to show at the Salon des Artistes Francais.

He served in the war and after concentrated on ceramics and glass making. Working in Bordeaux he met Jean Dupas who encouraged him to concentrate his talents on ceramics. While he did sometimes use colour, his preferred palette tended to black, brown and earth colours. He also produced crackle glaze items which were often signed in his pseudonym – Doris. In 1919, he was the only ceramicist to have his work displayed at the prestigious Salon des Artists Decorateurs and the Salon d’Automne in Paris. His work was very well received, and was admired by Maurice Denis and Jean Dunand, who actually purchased his work. It was Dunand who nominated Buthaud for the Floren American Prize, and he was awarded 25,000 French Francs.

As his reputation grew, he was made a member of the jury for the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs, where he also exhibited his work. Buthaud’s work is highly sought-after today, and has been exhibited in a number of major museums, among them the Musee des Arts Decoratifs and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York city. The picture shows him with one of his famous 4 lady vases which was commissioned by Bordeaux pharmacist Monsieur Riviere.


Brandt, Edgar (24 Dec 1880 – 8 May 1960)

Exhibited at many of the top Paris Salons. Famous for his high quality metal work – using mainly Bronze or wrought iron. He was a prolific arms designer during the first wold war and designed guns and heat rifle grenades and artillery shells.

After the war he moved on to making small jewellery items, boxes and lighting items. He went on to employ almost 150 artists to help create his works of art. He worked with many other famous artists – including Rhulmann, Dunand and Puiforcat, and also produced work similar to Paul Kiss. His business began to take off with special commissions such as the door of the French Embassy in Brussels, the Escalier Mollien stairs in the Louvre, and the stair and balcony railing for the Grand Theatre Municipal de Nancy.

Brandt’s career took off and peaked in the 1920s and 30s. He produced many very stylish entrances for shops in Paris and lighting which included ceiling lamps and chandeliers, table lamps and wall lights became an important part work. Brandt’s work was acknowledged by the American Association of Architects making him an honorary member in 1929.
As he became internationally famous, he expanded his business again and opened a state-of-the-art factory in the Paris suburb of Chatillon-sous-Bagneux, where upward of 3,000 workers fabricated both decorative metalwork and armaments under his name. His company was nationalized in 1936. Several years later World War II forced him to flee with his family to Switzerland. At war’s end in 1945 Brandt returned to France but chose not to reopen his studio. Instead, he worked on small projects until he died in 1960.

Brandt items are today extremely sought after and command high prices, relevant to the high quality of his work. Famous for his wrought iron work, he created an entirely new form of smithing and created a very impressive number of art historical works for buildings and for the home. His items included radiator covers, console tables, lamps, stair banisters, window grills, sculptures and gates, to name but a few. He was inspired by the artist blacksmith Emile Robert and he became a leading force in Art Deco metal work. His shop in Paris was at 27 Boulevard Malesherbes. He produced much of the metal work for the Paris arts decorative exhibition and had his own Pavilion displaying his works.

Brandt is considered as one of the top Fer Forge artists along with Subes and Kiss. He is considered highly by collectors worldwide and on par with the other top deco artists like Lalique, Chiparus and Rhulman. He epitomised the new art deco look of the  new age deco years.


Breuer, Marcel (1902 – 1981)
Hungarian born furniture designer and architect. Taught at the Bauhaus as head of the furniture workshop. He worked in America and worked with Walter Gropius until 1941 and was a professor of Harvard from 1937 – 1947.

Briand
Pieces signed Briand were produced by the Le Verrier foundry in Paris during the deco years – ie. the famous bird lady and hoop lady, and I now know that Briand was a pseudonym used by Marcel Bouraine who already used another pseudonym – Derenne.

Briand was the pseudonym used by Marcel Bouraine for his Le Verrier art metal pieces. He also used Derenne on non bronze pieces.

Bruning, Max
A master of many styles and artistic mediums, Max Bruning claims a major position in twentieth century German art. His first original paintings and prints were exhibited in 1910 and show stylistic elements of both Art Nouveau and Symbolism.

After the end of the First World War he turned more to both Expressionistic and Art Deco concerns. At this time Max Bruning’s art dealt almost entirely with the many elements of eroticism. During the 1920’s his watercolours were reproduced as ‘naughty’ postcards and imagery for advertising. He dedicated his more serious talents, however, to the creation of original etchings and drypoint engravings, some of which were finished with extra layers of colours applied by hand.

Max Bruning’s eventful life is almost as compelling as his art. He attended the Leipzig Academy of Art at the young age of fifteen and studied both painting and printmaking techniques there under Alois Kolb and Peter Halm. Upon completion of his studies, Bruning contributed drawings to the periodical, Ex Libris (1910). He also first exhibited his art in Munich during that year. In the First World War (1914-1918), Bruning was commissioned as a war artist. Shortly after the war ended he settled in Berlin. As the Weimar era became increasingly threatened by the rise of the Nazis, however, Bruning moved to the Tyrol Mountains in Austria. He remained there during the entire Second World War. In 1943, Allied bombing attacks upon Berlin destroyed most of the remaining original copper plates of Bruning’s engravings. When the war ended in 1945, Max Bruning, a classified German citizen, was forced to leave Austria. He settled in Lindau in the following year and opened a studio. Most of his art from this period is landscape paintings and watercolours.

Although Bruning did not number his engravings and etchings in specific editions, they were published in quite small numbers. As well, many impressions were destroyed as degenerate art when the Nazis took power. Thus his remarkable art is today quite scarce.

Bugatti, Carlo (1855 – 1940)
was an amazing Italian furniture designer and craftsman with his own individual style which was based on extravagant ornamentation, geometric shapes and Moorish themes. He came to public attention when he designed the Moorish interior for the Italian section at the Turin International Exhibition in 1902. His designs were as much works of art as pieces of furniture. He incorporated embossed metal appliques , or ivory or pewter inlay, used a variety of woods and/or decorative material, often including vellum perhaps painted with Arab figures or scenes . His designs have to be seen to be believed.

Bugatti, Rembrandt (1885 – 1916)
was the son of Carlo Bugatti the furniture designer and younger brother of Ettore Bugatti the famous automobile designer. A truly remarkable family. His career spanned a mere 15 years, but during that time he created some of the finest animal sculptures ever produced. He was awarded the Legion d’Honneaur in 1911. Committed suicide 1916.

BULLE
Clock makers of France. There is a lot of data on the internet about this maker, who made masses and masses of clocks between the two world wars and slightly after, in lots of case styles.

Burgner, Doerte (Dodo), nee Wolff. (1907 – 1998)
Dodo worked for Theodore Wolff, (no relation) who was the editor of the German satirical magazine ‘Ulk’, which was published between 1872 – 1933. Dodo worked for the magazine producing art work between 1927 and 1933 in Berlin. She married a consultant lawyer named J Burgner and due to the war fled Germany in 1936 followed by her husband 2 years later.

CAMUS – Jean Marie (1877 – 1955)
French sculptor and painter who exhibited at the Salon in Paris and worked in various medium – bronze, marble and terracotta. Born in Hermand-Ferand in 1877 and studied under Barrias and made his debut at the Salon in 1900. He won a gold medal in 1931 and was made a Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur.

Carlier
Emile Joseph Nestor Carlier 1849-1927. Born in Cambrai, France and died in Paris 1927. He studied at local art schools and moved to Paris where he was a pupil of Jouffroy, Cavelier and Chapu at the Ecole des Beaux Arts.Famous for his busts, animals and genre groups. He received many medals for his work and held the rank of Officier in the Legion of Honour.

Carrier-Belleuse, Albert
Born in 1927, he received many honours for his exceptional work. Famous for ‘Nature revealing herself’, died 1887, in his later years was the director of Sevres factory in France. Was responsible for the ceiling in the Louvre, Paris. Considered as a real Master of his art.

Cartier, Eugene (1861 – 1943)
French artist and sculptor who received Salon medal of honour 1926. Worked in bronze, mainly animalier – and oil on board.

Cartier, Thomas Francois
born in Marseille, France 1879. First exhibited at the salons in 1908. Later to receive many awards.


Carvin, Auguste, (1868 – 1949)
French artist born in Paris who exhibited at the Salon, Paris from 1896. Specialised in sculpture, monuments and several large works in various municipal buildings, schools and hospitals.

Predominantly an animalier sculptor. It seems there were two Carvin  animalier artists working at around the same time, one was Lois and the other Auguste.

The work of Lois Carvin was more naturalistic as he was  earlier than Auguste Carvin who’s work was very art deco and stylised.  He studied under Gardet and Fremiet and exhibited at the Paris Salon  from 1894 – 1933.  His latter work concentrated on genre compositions.


Causse, Cadet Julien
Born at Bourges, worked 1890 – 1914, studied in Paris under Falguiere and exhibited at The Salon des Artists Francais in the 1890s, obtaining honourable mentions in 1892 and 1900 and a third class medal in 1893. He also took part in the exposition Universelle of 1900 and specialised in small figures. Pictures of his work can be found in the Berman book of Bronzes by Schiffer books.

Charles, C.
Art Deco Sculptural artist, worked with the Le Verrier foundry in the 1920’s and 1930’s. He is well known for his Diana on horseback.

Charol – Dorothea (Odessa Russia 1895 – London 1963)
Produced bronze and bronze and ivory pieces along with many ceramic statues. Her work was produced by the Volkstedt porcelain factory in Thuringia and also by Rosenthal.


Chiparus, Demetre Haralamb (1886 – 1947)
Statues created by Chiparus are some of the most famous and most desirable of the Art Deco sculptural items. Born in Dorohoi Romania he was the son of Haralamb and Saveta Chiparus. He took his fathers name as his middle name in memory of his father and often signed his name as D H Chiparus. He had one Brother who died under mysterious circumstances. In 1909 he went to Italy, where he attended the classes of an Italian sculptor Raffaello Romanelli, he then went on to Paris when he was 20 years old and studied under Mercie and Boucher and exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Francais from 1914 to 1928.

His earlier statues were created in a more naturalistic style and many were of children. He produced statues in bronze and ivory, bronze, spelter and terracotta and even plaster. He also produced ceramic boxes and night/perfume lamps and also paintings. At the beginning of the 1920s his style changed to a more stylised Art Deco theme and he modelled statues depicting the Ballet Russes, Moulin Rouge and the Folies Berger. French theatre and early motion pictures were among his more notable subjects. His was influenced by an interest in Egypt, after Pharaoh Tutankhamens tomb was excavated and other exotic Counties of the world as travel was now more available due to ocean liners and and air flight.

He worked mainly with the Edmond Etling and Cie Foundry in Paris administrated by Julien Dreyfus. Les Neveux de J. Lehmann was the second foundry who also worked with Demetre Chiparus and produced the sculptures cast from his models. Demetre Chiparus designed the most stylised and extravagant bases on which to present his sculptures, the bases made from an assortment of marbles and onyx many with a theatrical stage theme.It would seem that he produced the statue in plaster line and then would sell it to the foundry. He would then be paid a commission for the amount produced, it would appear he may never have got paid for all his commissions. This could be part of the reason that some statues are unsigned. He worked on 12 pieces at a time and then would offer them to the foundry.

They never refused any of his statues. His pieces were sold world wide as far as America, India and even too the Maharaja of Jaipor. I believe he used the pseudonyms Audine on a few of his bronze pieces and Larcourt and Darcles on some of the spelter pieces. Chiparus statues are now highly sought after and fetch high prices by collectors worldwide. I can highly recommend the two books, Chiparus – The Master of Art Deco by my friend Alberto Shayo for anyone seeking further information and photographs of his works.


Christ, Fritze (1866 – 1906)
German bronze statuary artist. Ahead of his time as most of his statues were very Nouveau themed. Created his famous Astrape goddess of thunder and lightning statue. He studied under Widmann at the Munich Academy of art he exhibited his statues in Paris, Munich, Copenhagen and Chicago at the turn off the century.

Cian, Fernand (1889 – 1954)
Fernando Ciancianaini – French-Italian sculptor born Carrara, Italy and exhibited in Paris 1911 – 1928. Worked in bronze, marble and terracotta.


Cipriani, Ugo (1897 – 1960)
Prolific Italian sculptor born in Florencia, Italy on 13th August 1897, died in Paris in June 1960. Studied at the famous Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze. He followed in his Fathers footsteps as he too was a sculptor. One of Ugo Cipriani’s most famous works is a statue of the patriot Oberdan in the Oberdan’s square in Florencia dated 1919. He left Italy for france around 1935-1937 to escape from Mussolini’s fascist government and became a political refugee in Paris where he kept on working his craft until his death. Produced many fine art deco statuary items in various mediums including spelter, spelter and ivorine, bronze and terracotta. There seems to be a connection between Menneville and Cipriani. In discussions with Lydia Cipriani his daughter I have been informed that her half brothers Mothers name was Madelaine Bouchetot de Menneville. I believe it is too much of a coincidence that the Menneville statues are very much in the style of Cipriani’s work. Also I have had signed Mennevilles that Lydia believes are the work of her Father. I know for a fact that many of the works of Cipriani, Menneville (and Rochard) were produced by the Silvin foundry in Paris during the early 1930s. Therefore I conclude it is highly likely that Menneville was a pseudonym used by Ugo Cipriani on his spelter and spelter and Ivorine pieces. His bronzes and terracottas were usually signed Cipriani and many were unsigned. I also believe he used the pseudonyms – De Viggo and Roggia. I thank Ugo Cipriani’s daughter, Lydia and son Gabriel for this important information.


CLARA Juan.
Spanish sculptor worked and exhibited in the Paris Salons.

Clerc, Sylvestre
French artist born 1912. Exhibited Paris during 1920’s.

COCTEAU, Jean Maurice Eugene (1889 – 1963)
Born 5th July 1889 in Vyelines France and died 11th Oct 1963 (aged 74) in Millet-la-foret, Essone France. Jean Cocteau was one of the most multi talented artists of the 20th century. He was an artist, set designer, actor, novelist, poet and playwright. He worked with Sergei Diaghilev and did designs for the Ballet Russe. His designs were all rich with symbolism and surreal imagery. He is now regarded as one of the most important avant-garde directors in cinema.


Colinet, Claire Jeanne Roberte (1880 – 1950)
Belgian born female statuary artist worked during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco years in France. Born in Brussels and later moved to and worked in France, her career spanned over 40 years. She died in Asnieres-sur-Seine, France in 1950 aged around 69 – 70. She studied under Jef Lambeaux and exhibited at the Salon of the Society des Artistes Francais in 1913. From 1937 to 1940, she exhibited at the Salon des Independents in Paris and joined the Union of Women Painters and Sculptors. She was one of the few female statuary artists of her time. Famous for her Ankara, Theban and Egyptian dancers – these statues are very powerful, strong subjects and often very theatrical. Most of her bronzes were made by the Etling et Cie. Goldscheider Les Never de J. Lehmann and Barbedienne foundries. She worked mainly in bronze and ivory. Colinet’s sculpture has become highly desirable to collectors and, increasingly, is selling for exorbitant sums. At a Christie’s sale in 2007, her Ankara Dancer sold for a hammer price of $285,984. Her statues are now highly sought after worldwide.


Compton Pottery
The Compton Pottery Guild started at the end of the 19th century with evening classes which were run by Mary Watts the wife of the renown Victorian artist G.F. Watts, herself a very accomplished artist she encouraged local people to come together under her guidance to make terracotta panels decorated with Celtic symbolism for the new cemetery chapel which the Watt’s had given as a gift to the village. It was such a success that it led to a small pottery business which was run as a guild system with the workers having a financial interest in the business. The pottery flourished through the early 20th century making gravestones, sundials, large unglazed pots and other garden ornaments, many being sold through Liberty’s of London. Smaller hand coloured unglazed items were also made. Compton designs have a strong mixture of Celtic and Art Nouveau styles making them easily recognised pieces. The firm closed in 1951.


Paul Colin
Le Bal Nègre des Champs Elysées

Colin, Paul Hubert
Born June 27, 1892 in Nancy, died June 18, 1985 in Nogent-sur-Marne.
Colin was a French painter, draughtsman, designer, scenographer and poster artist, one of the most innovative and influential during the art deco period. A pupil of Eugene Vallin and Victor, Colin asserts himself after the First World War as the head of the modern School of the lithographed poster, through new reproductive techniques using gravure and serigraphy.

He created more than 1,400 posters, theatre sets and costumes. Revealed in 1925 by his poster for The Negro magazine, he helps to launch the career of Josephine Baker. He worked for nearly forty years for the performing Arts and the world of entertainment and was also one of Josephine Bakers lovers during the 1920s. His style, at first very marked by both Art Deco and the new objectivity, quickly becomes very personal and difficult to bring into a simple category: the synthetic accuracy of his portraits, the force of evocation of his posters for the Great causes make it a master of the visual communication whose work remains exemplary today.
His album The Black Tumult (1927), magnifying Josephine Baker and the jazz musicians of the Negro magazine, is undoubtedly a masterpiece. He is the founder and director of a drawing School (1929-1970) on the Boulevard Malesherbes in Paris.


Conde, Geo
Georges Jean Conde, born 25 June 1891, famous sculptor and ceramics artist who worked for the St. Clement ceramics company in Lorraine, along with Lemenceau during the 1920’s. Conde items are now highly sought after and he is now considered on par with Pompon, Adnet, Puiforcat and Sandoz, and is particularly famous for his stylised craquelier pieces.

Cortendorf
A ceramics company famous for wall masks and statues.

Costa, Joaquin
Born in Italy and exhibited there and in France in the early 1920’s. Worked 1905-1935.

Cotswold School (1893 – mid 1930’s)
A loose association of English furniture makers, located first at Pinbury and then at Sapperton in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire led by Ernest Gimson and the Barnsley brothers (Sydney and Ernest). They attempted to unite the traditional rural craftsmanship with the handcrafting principles advocated by the Arts & Crafts movement.

CROUZAT, Georges – (1904 – 1976)
French medallist, pupil of Landowski and Dropsy. Studied at Ecole nationale superieure des Beaux Arts in Paris.

Dage, Louis (1878 – 1963)
Parisian ceramist active between 1920 – 1930, producing Art Deco ceramic items. Often worked in conjunction with Andre Villien, the metal artist – producing stunning ceramic and bronze clad items.


Dakon, Stefan – (1904 – 1992)
Stephan Dakon was born in Vienna 14th Nov 1904 and was a freelance sculptor and ceramist, famous mainly for his sculptural work in the production of deco female dancers. His work was very similar to that of Lorenzl and at one time it was believed that Dakon and Lorenzl were one and the same artist, we now know otherwise. It is however apparent that they worked together at Goldscheider.

After finishing school, he attended a school for sculptors and then served an apprenticeship at the bronze foundry in the Vienna Arsenal. Whilst there he made the acquaintance of Josef Lorenzl who later became a fellow colleague at Goldscheider in Vienna. It was on Lorenzl’s recommendation that Dakon was employed by Goldscheider in 1924 as a freelance designer. He took up military service in Finland and Norway during the second world war and was interned as a prisoner. On his return to Austria he took up where he had left off and did similar works for the American Goldscheider Corporation in Trenton, New Jersey and also worked for Adolf Prischl and William Goebel.

From 1945 he also worked for Keramos Wiener Kunstkeramik, who produced ceramics and porcelain items. Dakon’s work is now highly sought after by collectors world wide and he is considered to have been a prolific and versatile artist. His work is of exceptional quality and he is not only famous for his statuary work but he was undoubtedly one of the most important designers of ceramic wall masks and figurines.


D’Aste Joseph
Italian Born artist who exhibited at Salons in Italy and France during the 1920’s. Worked mainly in portrait and figural sculptures.

D’Avesn, Pierre (1901 – 1984)
The pseudonym used by Pierre Gire. Born in 1901 in France. Top quality glass maker of the Art Deco period. He worked for Rene Lalique for ten years from the young age of 14. He is famous for designing the Lalique serpent vase and the Tourbillons vase which are now probably the most sought after and highly priced Lalique items. In 1926 he left Lalique and created his own pieces which were produced by Cristallerie de Saint-Remy. In 1930 Daum asked him to work for his subsidiary company, Verrier D’Art Lorrain, in charge of their moulded glass section in Croismare France. He worked there until 1936. In 1937 he was the manager of Verlys glass until the war in 1940. From 1940 he worked with Cristallerie de Choisy-le-Roi (Sevres). His name has to be treated with the same respect as Lalique and Sabino and his pieces are now highly sought after because of the quality and design. Also designed scent bottles for D’orsay.

Daum, Auguste
Born 1853 and died 1909. A French man who formed a glass company famous for its glass decorating techniques which were similar to those used by their neighbouring company of Galle. Auguste, the founder of the company was later joined by his two sons in the business – Lois Auguste and Jean Antonin who carried on the company. The company is still working today.

Daum, Jean
Father of the famous Daum brothers was originally a solicitor not a glass maker. He took over a glassworks near Nancy, France, in 1878 as part payment of a debt. His son Auguste (who had been trained as a lawyer) joined him shortly afterwards, to help improve the business. More than a decade later, and some five years after their father had died, the younger brother Antonin (a newly trained engineer) joined him. It was their business and creative skills which made the Verrerie de Nancy a success. The company originally specialized in watch glasses, window glass, and glassware for taverns.

They exhibited their tableware at the Paris Exhibition of 1889, it was here that Auguste and Antoni were impressed and influenced by the art glass work of Emile Galle. They started with enamelled and engraving and from there they moved on to become one of the major forces in the art nouveau movement, seriously rivaling Galle. When Galle died in 1904 they became the leaders. At the beginning of 1900 Paul Daum ( son of the famous Auguste Daum ) started his own glass atelier under the name Leune ‘Societe Anonyme des Etablissements’. Between 1923 and 1926 Auguste-Claude Heiligstein started as art director at the atelier. The family firm ‘Daum Freres & Cie’ produced the glass models for the firm Leune. All the models where designed and decorated by Auguste-Claude Heiligstein even the pressed decorated ones. At the beginning of the 1930’s the firm closed.

Dauvergne, J.
French artist worked mainly in spelter (white metal) during the 1920’s – 1930’s. Famous for his Dianne & Ibex and The Hooplady.

(DAX) Edouard Cazaux, (1889 – 1974)
Used the pseudonym ‘DAX’. Began his career in Paris in 1907 in the family workshop and studied design at night school. In 1912 after finishing three years military training at Mont-de-Marsan, he won a scholarship to the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts and went on to study sculpture and ceramics. A prolific producer of earthenware pieces of all sizes, by the time he reached his early 30’s he had become internationally recognised.


De Coene Freres
Belgian Furniture Company. Originally inspired by the ideas of the Arts and Crafts movement and Wiener Werkstatte. The De Coene brothers – Joseph and Adolphe set up their own workshop in Kortrijk in Belgium around 1908. The family run business soon evolved into an all encompassing interior business. They began with 15 employees and by 1922 there were 1500 workers. Twenty different disciplines were practiced under the one factory roof. Art Deco became a fact before it was even known to exist, reflected in the innovative designs of the De Coene factory. They imported exotic woods from the congo in a large scale. The extravagant designs of the earlier years were replaced with more modernist designs which enhanced the visual pleasure of wood and unusual veneers.

Many top artists and designers worked with the De Coene company and Joseph was close friends with many of them, architects such as Michel Polak, Jean Baptiste Dewin Henry van de Velde and Jan-Albert de Bondt. During the invasion in May 1940 the factory was hit heavily by German bombs and later in 1944 by British bombs. After the liberation Joseph De Coene and other company heads were sentenced to imprisonment for economic collaboration with Germans in providing them with barracks and furniture in order to avoid excessive commandeering of their staff. Joseph was sentenced to 20 years hard labour and died a broken man in 1950. The De Coene company was returned to the De Coene family in 1952, when the company went into partnership with Knoll.


Delabrierre, Paul Edouard (1829 – 1912)
Born in Paris and died there in 1912. Animalier sculptor and artist, made his debut at the Salon 1848, exhibiting there regularly until 1882. He exhibited a wide range of animals including hunting dogs, race horses, game birds and wild animals, including bears, tigers, lions, antelope and camels. His works were famous for their characterisation, realism and exceptional quality. Of his larger statues the most famous was L’Equetation which was produced for the facia of the Louvre in Paris in 1875.


Delagrange – Leon Noel (Orleans 1872 – Croix d’Hins 1910)
A French artist who studied under Barrias, he exhibited at the salon of the society of artists from 1894 – 1907. He is also famous as an aviator and was president of the aero club France. He stopped working on statues in 1909 and he died in 1910 when he had an accident in his mono plane.


Delatte, Andre
Worked Jarville, Nancy, France (1921 – c 1930). Famous for his top quality glass wares considered on par with the top deco glass makers like Daum, Lalique, Muller, Sabino and Leunne. Specialising in thick, top quality glass items which were sand blasted, acid etched and usually heavily hand enamelled. Signed pieces Dalatte and sometimes Jarvil.


Delaunay, Sonia (1885 – 1979)
An abstract artist and key figure in the Parisian avant-garde. Famous for her geometric and bolt coloured modernist Art Deco designs. Alongside her husband, Robert Delaunay, she pioneered the movement Simultanism. Her exploration of the interaction between colours has created a sense of depth and movement throughout her oeuvre. She was born Sonia Illinitchna Stern to a Jewish Ukrainian family. At the age of seven she went to live with her comparatively wealthy uncle Henri Terk and his wife, Anna, in St Petersburg, Russia. The Terk’s offered her a privileged and cultured upbringing in St Petersburg. Nevertheless, her childhood memories of Ukraine remained with her and she often referred back to the ‘pure’ colour and bright costumes of the Ukrainian peasant weddings. Delaunay’s creativity expanded beyond painting to include many other outlets such as Casa Sonia, an interiors and fashion boutique that she set up 1918; The entire set and costume design of Tristan Tzara’s 1923 play Le Coeur a Gaz; An illustration for the cover of Vogue in 1926; Costumes for the films Le Vertige directed by Marcel L’Herbier and Le p’tit Parigot, directed by Rene Le Somptier; Furniture for the set of the 1929 film Parce que je t’aime, and her textiles label Tissus Delaunay,


De La Vellee, Georges
Another sculptor who had his work produced by the Le Verrier foundry in the 1930’s.

De LaTour
Amelia Cate De LaTour, born in Scotland and studied at the Bournmouth School of Art, the Central School of Art and the central School of Arts and Crafts. She settled in Bournemouth where she worked during the 1920’s as a painter and sculptor of mainly animal subjects. She Exhibitied at the Royal Academy and the Salon des Artistes Francais and many leading British Galleries.


De Marco
Along with the Le Verrier family I now believe that De Marco was not an artist, we believe that the term de Marco was used by the Le Verrier foundry to denote the marriage of two artist. In the group Atalanta which is signed de Marco, the Diana statue was designed by Marcel Bouraine while the leaping deer used in the group was designed by Max Le Verrier. I have proof that the Diana was designed by Bouraine and sold to the Le Verrier foundry as I own the original letter of proprietary signed by Marcel Bouraine and confirming the sale of the statue to the le verrier atelier.


Debry, Sophie – She exhibited at the Salon Paris 1920’s.

Decoux, Michel (1837 – 1924)
Belgian artist mostly designed stylised animals mainly in bronze, but some spelters. Panthers being the most usual subjects were extremely streamlined and often silvered bronze. He produced a few human statues but concentrated mainly on animal subjects during the early art deco period. His work was of exceptional quality and his statues were also used to decorate many art deco clocks. I personally love most Decoux pieces and I would put his work on par with the work of Lavroff – although he is not as well known. If any one reading this has any more information about Decoux or indeed any of the other artists please share it with me and the viewers of my website.

Degue – Degue Art Glass.
Founded by David Gueron, a Turkish Soldier and soldier of the French Foreign Legion. The company was originally called Cristalleries De Compiegne and produced various household glass items. The name changed to Verrerie D’Art Degue in 1926, producing stunning Modernist glass ware items including vases, and many ceiling lamps and table lamps. Degue had a show room at 41 rue de Paris. The work produced by the Degue company is now highly sought after worldwide and renowned for the excellent quality. Guéron employed the ceramist and designer Edouard Cazaux as his artistic director and head designer. In 1936 production stopped and the company finaly closed down in 1939 due to the war. 

Delabrierre, Paul Edouard (1829 – 1912)
French sculptural artist born in Paris specialising in animal sculptures. He produced hunting dogs, race horses, game birds and exotic zoo animals such as lions, tigers camels and bears. Most being sand cast in bronze. His most famous work is the large group entitled L’Equitation which he produced for the face of the Louvre in Paris in 1875.

Delamarre, Raymond (1890 – 1986)
Considered as one of the ‘new breed’ of French sculptor-medallists (along with Annette Landry, Albert Pommier, Georges Guiraud and many others). Considered as a master in his art. Even though accomplishing a very wide array of medals, one of his best known pieces is the Art Deco-style Compagnie Generale Transatlantique medal for the ship Ville D’Algers in 1935. An apprentice of his own father, a highly regarded engraver and chiseller (stone sculptor). Worked with Rodin. Won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1919. His early work focused on creating monumental sculptures. Won the Gold Medal at the 1925 Exposition des Arts Decoratifs. Received the Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur.

Delapchier, Louise – born in France, exhibited at salons 1904 – late 1920’s.

Delaunay, Paul
Paul Delaunay, born 1883 in Paris, studied in France and emigrated to the USA. Became a member of the American Artist Professional League and Director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. Famous for sculpting monuments and memorials, genre figures and portraits.

Delannoy, Maurice
Born in Paris 1885, received several medals from the Salon during the 1920’s – 1930’s.

Delannoy, Pierre Francois Fernand – born in Paris, exhibited at the Paris salons during 1920’s, and received ah honourable mention for his work.

Demeyere
Belgian company founded in 1909 and working during the deco years and still working today. During the early 1930’s they produced the fabulous tubular chrome and bakelite items such as the smokers stands, tables, umbrella stands, planters, and coat racks and stands. Many of which can be seen on my website and in the Design Museum in Gent, Belgium. In November 2009 the Gent Design Museum staged an exhibition of the company’s work. The company is still running today and now produces metal table and cookware items.

Denis
French artist, work produced mainly by the Le Verrier foundry in Paris. Famous for his Scarf Dancer and Ball Dancer.

Derby, Sophie – French artist exhibited at the Salon during the 1920’s.

Derenne
Pieces signed Derenne were produced by the Le Verrier foundry in Paris during the deco years, and Derenne was a pseudonym used by Marcel Bouraine. It would appear that it was not unusual for sculptors to use pseudonyms. Bouraine used the two pseudonyms – Derenne and Briand.

Descomps, Jean
Worked and exhibited at the Paris Salons during the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Descomps, Joseph (Joe). (Clermont-Ferrand 1869 – Paris – 1950)
French Sculptor, born Joseph Emmanuel Descomps – Cormier in Clermont-Ferrand on the 18th January 1869. Studied under Hiollin and exhibited in Paris at the Salon des Artists, he won medals in 1921, 1925 and 1928.

He also exhibited at the Salon d’Automne and the Tuileries. He specialised in figural statues of the art nouveau and deco period, mainly ladies. Signed his name – Joe Descomps and sometimes signed Joseph Cormier but mainly on his ceramic studies.

He worked in many mediums, bronze, ceramic, bronze and ivory. Most of his bronzes were produced by the Etling et Cie and the barbienne foundries.

He exhibited the statue Femme au lotus in the vestibule at the Paris exhibition of 1925.

Joe Descomps used at least 3 pseudonyms: Jean Descomps, J. D. Guirande and Cormier on his ceramic pieces.

De Viggo – See Menneville.

Dieupart, Henri Germain Étienne (born Paris, 1888-1980)
The Paris born sculptor was a pupil of Jean-Antoine Injalbert (1845-1933) and Paul Auban (1869-1945).

Henri Dieupart is known for his artwork, sculptures in stone, bronze and other media, and with the creation of the artwork ‘Le Printemps’, depicting a naked woman located at square du Dr Drancher, rue Sorbier in Paris which was created in 1928.

He also made several monuments and from 1920 he worked with the glass makers Simonet Frères as a designer for their lamps and clocks and designed a number of prestigious vases for special exhibitions, such as the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs and the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs 1925 in Paris.

Their art deco glassware – made by Cristallerie de Choisy-le Roi regularly won prizes and the style of the vases is compared to the work of René Lalique or Marius Sabino.

Diey, Yves (1892 – 1984)
Born in Paris in 1882 and worked during the early 20th century. He participated in the Salon des Artistes Français and won a silver medal in 1942. Diey was famous as a painter of nudes and portraits of women, and also typical Spanish and Moroccan scenes. Although there is little biographical information on the artist, he is well known to French art dealers by virtue of the fact that he was extremely prolific and his works were generally of very high quality.

Diligent, Raphael (1884 – 1964)
Scupltural artist, mainly in bronze & mainly animalier statues. Some of his statues were produced by the Le Verrier Foundry in the early 1930’s.

Douglas, Jon
An English wall mask producer worked mainly in plaster. Many of his wall masks were designed as Hollywood movie stars.

Drouot Edouard (1859 – 1945)
A French sculptor, he was born in Sommevoire (Haute – Marne), on 3rd April 1859. Studied in Paris under Mathurin Moreau and Emile Thomas. He won a third class medal at the Salon of 1892 (where exhibited from 1889). He also received an Honourable mention at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 for his work entitled L’Amateur, a life size marble submitted to the Paris Salon in 1893. He specialized in sports and hunting scenes, Eastern subjects, and mythological subjects such of pan and other nymph type statues. His pieces tend to lean towards the fluid lines of the Nouveau period and have lots of movement to them. He is considered by many to have been a genius and his pieces are highly sought after by collectors and Museums worldwide.

Dubois, Antoine (1869 – 1949)
Belgian ceramics artist. He was a Ceramist was from Mons Belgium and one of the founders of the Mons Pottery. Most of his work is from the 1920s – 1930s. He is known for his Geometric Lines and Bold Colors.

Dupas, Jean Théodore (1882 -1964)
Jean Dupas was a famous French painter and artist who worked during the art nouveau and deco years. He worked for fashion magazines like Vogue and Harpers Bazaar and designed a catalogue for the fur company Max. A student of Ecole des beaux arts in Bordeaux and Ecole superieure des beaux-arts Paris. He worked in the studio of Gabriel Ferrier. Working in a Neo classical personal style he won many awards. He worked on many designs for Sevres ceramics company. In 1925 he exhibited his famous painting – Les Perruchesto at the International exhibition of decorative arts in Paris. He created monuments in France and he collaborated in the decoration of many ocean liners such as the “Île-de-France” and the “Liberté” with Alfred Janniot and Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann. Including for the Normandie large lounge, he painted 400 square meters of  frosted glass paintings.During the 1930s, Dupas was commissioned by Frank Pick to produce the artwork for a series of posters for the underground network of London Rail. Dupas expressed his predilection for large-scale projects: “The greater is my work, the happier I am.” He became a member of the Academie des Beaux-Arts in 1941.
He died in Paris in 1964.

Duvernnet, Georges (1870 – 1955)
French artist who produced statues in spelter, bronze and bronze and ivory.

Ebena
The company of Ebena produced pieces in its factory in Wynegham, Belgium and worked from 1921 – 1931. It produced articles it described as ‘Articles de Fantaisie et articles industriels en matiere moulee’. This is the title of the Book on Ebena, produced by the Kunst Museum Dusseldorf (made in 1987). Items that included lamp bases, ashtrays, radios, urns, clocks, light pulls, necklaces, humidors and boxes were made of an early galalith-bakelite material. It was squashed in to the molds using gold and silver leaf which added a stunning glitter to the pieces. Most of the boxes and lamps tend to have a figural finial handle, often in the form of Pierrot, Egyptian cats, and Buddha’s, deco ladies and tassels. Ebena does tend to fade with age but you can usually see the amazing original colours inside where it has not been exposed to too much light. They are still stunning pieces that are collected world wide. You will find several pieces on my websites.

Erphila Ceramics
American ceramics company famous for its wall masks. Often marked with reverse E and R letters standing for Ebeling & Reuss who founded the ERphila Company in Philadelphia, PA during the deco years.

Erte, Roman de Tirtoff (1892 – 1990)
Renown for his fashion Art Deco designs for theatre and magazines etc. Erte defined it as the fusion of the curvilinear designs of Art Nouveau of the 19th Century with the Cubist, Constructivist, and geometrical designs of modernity. He was also influenced by Persian miniatures and would often use a brush with a single hair to complete his gouache paintings. His imagination was limitless, and Erte designed costumes, stage sets, jewellery, art objects, sculpture and ceramics. Unlike many artists who work freely before a canvas or sketchpad, Erte developed his own unique process: he would visualize the entire work of art in his mind until it was complete in every detail, and then create the work from his ‘mind’s eye.’ Erte is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

Etling – Edmond Laurent Etling,
La Societe Anonyme Edmond Etling was founded in 1909, at his foundry he produced top quality ornamental items, where you could buy the most exclusive art objects of that time including bronze, and bronze and ivory statues, ceramics and glass. The glass pieces were usually made for Etling at the Choisy-le-Roi glassworks. He opened a shop in Paris at 29 Rue de Paradis. Here he sold his wares which were designed by top freelance designers of the deco period like Alliott, Alonzo, Chiparus, Gazan, Bel, Guiraud-Riviere, Descompe, Godard, Pierre Le Faguays, A. Godard, Auroroe Onue, Claire-Jean Roberte Colinet, Lucille Sevin and her husband Jean Theodore Delabasse, Gazan, Georges Beal and Marcel Guillard. These artisans were all leading members of the French modern art movement of that time and by creating ideal circumstances for them, Etling played a significant role in the style, which later became known as Art-Deco. Etling pieces are famous for their innovative design and quality and are today highly sought after. Their entire output was produced during the Art Deco period as the company did not survive the second world war. Etling items are now highly sought after.

Evolution
French dinanderie company worked with Paul Louis Mergier (1891 – 1986). Produced metal dinanderie items in copper, silver and enamel. Mainly vases but some other items like bowls and chargers etc.

Fanrose
possibly a pseudonym used by Fanny Rozet

Faure, Antoine Ferdinand – fl. 19th century
Born in Marseilles in mid 19th century, he studied at the Marseilles School of fine arts and was later a pupil of Cavalier at the Ecole des Beaux arts Paris. Exhibited at the Salon from 1882 to the end of the century and specialized in genre subjects and classical bronzes, including Childhood of Bacchus. He won a third class medal and a traveling scholarship in 1893. His larger works were sculpted in marble and he was employed as a restorer of the sculpture in the Court of honor at the Palace of Versailles in 1888. Many of his works were designed as decorative pieces for the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, inaugurated in 1897.

Fayral
Fayral was a pseudonym used by Pierre Le Faguays. Fayral and Guerbe were both the family names for his Mother and his Wife. Le Faguays was born in Nantes, France and became famous for the originality he gave his dancers, many of which were inspired by the statues of Tanagra. He gained a medal of honour for his work in 1927. He was a best friend of Max Le Verrier and the Le Verrier foundry made most – if not all of his pieces.
His wife’s name was Raymonde Guerbe Le Faguays and she signed her sculpture Guerbe. I now own the transfer of ownership documents from both Guerbe and Le Faguays where they signed over the ownership of their sculptures to Le Verrier. He signed his non-bronze pieces Fayral and she signed her non-bronze pieces Guerbe.

Felten, Major
Also known as Felton, was Richard Felten and American artist and illustrator born in 1904, he produced many stunning art deco posters between 1930 – 1950.


Focht, Frederic (1879 – 1937)
French art deco sculptor worked mainly in bronze. He studied under the celebrated sculptor Falguiere. His remarkable talent was recognized early in his career, exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Français and winning the coveted Medal of Honour in 1900 at the age of only 21. Focht made some of the most striking bronzes of the 1920s and 1930s most with a flying theme and some with airplanes and some with space rockets. Also producing bronze sports panels of cyclists and swimmers. His work is now highly sought after worldwide due to the high quality of his creations. He was also an opera singer. 


Follot, Paul (1877 – 1941)
French textiles, furniture and interior designer. Regarded by many as one of the pioneers of top art deco style. Director of the Pomone studio part of the Au Bon Marche store in 1923. Later joined Waring and Gillow in Paris in 1928. In 1931 became a freelance decorator and designer. His work is highly sought after world wide and commands high prices.

Fontinelle, Louis (1886 – 1964)
French artist and sculptor who produced spelter, bronze, ceramic and craquelier pieces during the art deco period.

Foretay, Alfred Jean
Born January 1861 in Morges, Switzerland. He studied under Falguiere, exhibiting portraits, busts and statues at various Salons. Won an honourable mention in 1891 along with a 3rd class medal in 1904. Produced mainly Nouveau style statues in bronze or spelter.

Fornells, Edouard (1887 – 1942)
Barcelona born designer who moved to Paris in 1909 and worked with Rene Lalique from 1911. In 1913 Fornells set up his own studio where he began experimenting with cellulose acetate plastics. In addition to supplying plastic boxes to Lalique, he worked closely with the perfume and cosmetics industry, creating plastic packaging for well-known companies such as Roger et Gallet, Worth, and Parfumerie d’Orsay. He designed bottles in glass and also many bakelite items, mainly for perfume companies. Lalique was responsible for many of the Fornells box designs and I believe they worked in conjunction with each other. One of the first plastics manufactured was cellulose nitrate (also known as Celluloid), which was discovered in 1856 and refined in 1877. Made from chemically treated cotton, the material could be easily moulded into a wide range of shapes, from billiard balls to false teeth, and could replicate tortoiseshell, ivory, or horn. It was also used in flexible transparent sheets for photographic negatives and movie film. Its disadvantages included yellowing, cracking, and inflammability. Experimentation led to the invention of a nonflammable cotton-based synthetic plastic called cellulose acetate in the early twentieth century. Marketed under a variety of brand names, including Sicoid, it was tough, had a rich gloss, high transparency, and a good feel, making it desirable for precious handheld objects such as boxes, dressing table sets compacts etc. Famous for his stylised foliage patterns. His items were displayed at the top Salons and the Decorative Arts Exhibition of 1925. His items are now highly sought after by collectors worldwide.

Fraisse, Edouard (1880 – 1945)
born in Beaune France the 14th of May 1880 died in Paris 13rd of September 1945. Pupil of Coutan, Chaplain and Vernon. Since 1904 he exhibited at the Salon of the Societe des Artistes Francais. In 1908 Fraisse competed for the Prix de Rome for which he received a second prize award. In 1929 he was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. In 1937 he received a gold medal.

Francisque
20th century sculptor working in bronze during the 1920’s, based in Marseille.

Franjou (1832 – 1927)
I do not have any information on Franjou but it is my opinion that there was a connection between Franjou and Moreau. I believe that Franjou was probably a pseudonym used by Moreau. I have had statues and figural items which are the same statue and have been signed in either name. It was not unusual for sculptors to use Pseudonyms. Most of the items tend to be comical animal subjects often with celluloid cross-eyes but also produced many comical animalier statues which were used as bookends, desk tidies and lamps.

Fugere, Henry
French statuary artist he was born in St. Mande on 7th September 1872 and died in 1944. Studied in Paris with Barrias, Cavelier, Puech. He exhibited portraits and statues at the Salon des artistes Francais during the 1920’s.


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