Kandinsky, Wassilly Wassilyevich (1866 – 1944)
Russian painter and art theorist. Considered by many as the pioneer of abstract art. Born in Moscow where he graduated at Grekov Odessa Art School. He also studied law and economics.
In 1896, Kandinsky settled in Munich, studying first at Anton Azbe’s private school and then at the Academy of Fine Arts. He returned to Moscow in 1914, after the outbreak of World War I.
Following the Russian revolution, Kandinsky became an insider in the cultural administration of Anatoly Lunacharsky and helped establish the Museum of the Culture of Painting. However, by then his spiritual outlook was foreign to the argumentative materialism of Soviet society and opportunities beckoned in Germany, to which he returned in 1920.
There he taught at the Bauhaus school of art and architecture from 1922 until the Nazis closed it in 1933. He then moved to France, where he lived for the rest of his life, becoming a French citizen in 1939 and producing some of his most prominent art. He died in Neuilly-Sue-Seine in 1944.
Kauba, Carl (1865 – 1922)
Born in Austria, Kauba was a student of Carl Waschmann and Stefan Schwarts in Vienna, he specialised in cold painted bronzes depicting scenes from the American West. Never visiting America himself, Kauba was inspired by the romantic stories written by the German Carl May and the many photographs and illustrations of Indians and cowboys which he had seen. Although his work was exported to the U.S from 1895 to 1912, he was not fully appreciated there until the 1950’s.
Keck – Hans (1875 – 1941)
Born in Austria, he worked with the Gebruder Brandel foundry in Berlin. Most of his pieces were Nouveau bordering onto Art Deco. They were classical and Medieval subject in bronze and ivory.
Kelety, Alexander (d. 1940)
Born in Budapest, Hungary date unknown, worked 1918-1940. Studied in Toulouse France along with Imre Simay. He then moved to Paris where he studied and exhibited during the inter war years.
Highly acclaimed for the quality of his works which are well sought after by collectors world wide. His most famous pieces being ‘The release’ and ‘The Archer’ – he also produced some wonderful children statues of exceptional character and quality.
Worked in bronze, bronze and ivory and ceramics. Most of his bronzes were produced by Goldscheider, Etling and Lehmann. His animal subjects were produced by M. Ollier and he also produced male and children statues.
A prolific artist his items were used as other household items such as bookends, lighting and incense burners and ashtrays. He liked the dinanderie technic as a finish.
Keramia
Austrian ceramics company, producing ceramic figures and wall masks. Many of the masks designed by Karl Grossl
Keramos – Keramos Wiener Kunstermik
A Vienna ceramics company famous for its wall masks which in 1939 joined forces with Porzellanmanufaktur Bruder Wolf KG to become Keramos. Among the owners were two sculptors/ceramists Robert Obsieger and Rudolf Podany. The company produces earthenware statues and many wall masks which were designed by Stephan Dakon, Rudolf Podany and Ina Eisenbeisser. There was a Keramos Germany and Ansl Austria.
Kiss, Paul
French artist famous for his art deco ornamental ironwork, producing excellent quality items considered by many to be on par with Edgar Brandt. Items were produced in bronze and ironwork and included, radiator covers, console tables, lamps, stair banisters, window grills, and gates – although he specialised more in lighting. His shop was based at 10 Rue des Perichaux, Paris.
Knorlein, Rudolf (1902 – 1988)
Austrian Sculptor and ceramist worked for the Wienner Werkstatte and Gmundner keramik and for Goldscheider. He was famous for his new colours and glazes which played a major design role in the West German Goldscheider range. He also designed wall masks for Goldscheider.
Knox, Archibald (1864 – 1933)
He was born and educated on the Isle of Man. Knox was the most important of the designers, called upon by Arthur Lasenby of the famous London Liberty store. He produced more than 400 designs for the Cymric range as well as some designs for the Tudric pewter range which were inspired by the earlier Cymric wares. His observation of Celtic remains on the Isle of Man were the underlying influence on his choice of decoration. The ornate elements are easily recognised and often incorporated spear-headed entrelac symbols (a form of interlaced decoration drawn from ancient jewellery). Pieces are often embellished with peacock blue/green enamels and or inset with turquoise, lapis lazulli or similar semi-precious stone cabochons.
Kolzoff, Serge
Born September 1892 in Moscow, studied at Moscow school of fine arts and was winner of its gold medal. Most of his work was realistic, but during the 1920’s his style changed to constructivism.
Konig-Scavini
Italian female ceramics artist. Designed statues and wall masks for the Lenci company.
Lambeaux, Joseph (Jef) Marie Thomas (1852 – 1908)
Belgian artist born in Antwerp in 1852, died 1908 Brussels. Famous as the teacher of Colinet. Jef Lambeaux was born into an artistic family. He learnt sculpting at the Antwerp Academy with Jozef Geefs as his teacher. In Paris he helped J. Beers in his atelier, later he also worked at the atelier of J. Vanaise. Lambeaux took part in many exhibitions, won a gold medal in 1881, and in 1882 was given a scholarship by the city of Antwerp, which he used to travel to Italy. The main theme in his work is the expression of movement, nude figures become more important as time passes. He also made busts and in Italy he found inspiration for making fauns. He designed the Caryatids of the Antwerp City Hall, the famous Brabo-fountain in the same city, as well as many other important monuments. His most important work is The Calvary of the Human Race which in 1899 was placed in the Brussels Jubelpark in a small building designed by the architect Victor Horta.
Lange – Richard, W
German artist worked in bronze and ivory and bronze and designed ceramic statues for the Rosenthal company.
Larche, Raoul-Francois (1860 – 1912)
A renown French sculptor mainly known for top quality bronze female figures, possibly gilded, often naked or sheathed in drapery. He produced a series of well known figures based on the American actress and dancer, Loie Fuller who was regarded as a living embodiment of Art Nouveau.
Larroux, Antonin
French artist born in Toulouse 1859.
Laurent, Blanche
French, born in Paris and exhibited there.
Laurent, Georges Henri (1880 – 1940)
A French postwar and contemporary sculptor famous for his numerous bronze animalier sculptures. Active between 1900-1930.
Laurent, Pierre
Born in Montlucon, 1868, a student of Barrias, won several awards.
Lavroff, Georges (1895 – 1991)
was born Georgij Dmitrievic Lavrov in Siberia. He studied painting and medicine at the University of Tomsk. In 1917-20 – he served in the 6th Regiment of the partisans of Azchipov. 1923-1926 – He became a member of the Russian artistes association in Moscow and in 1927-1935 Lavroff was sent to France to promote Soviet Art. This was the start of the famous works we now associate with George Lavroff and for which he is famous, mainly his art deco animal statues.
He worked in several mediums mainly bronze and ceramics. For some time he worked closely in conjunction with Marcel Guillemard and indeed some of Lavroff’s statues and other items are marked Guillemard and not Lavroff. He moved back to Russia in 1935. From 1940-1980 Lavroff worked mainly on monumental sculptures and busts of important members of the Soviet society. Displaying his works in many of the important Salons.
In 1982 there was an exhibition which was devoted to his work. In 1984 – George Lavroff became a member of the Republic Socialists of the Soviet Federations of Russia. He died on August the 29th 1991 at the ripe old age of 96 years! Lavroff is famous for the quality of his pieces, and his work is highly sought after by collectors world wide today. Not all Lavroff pieces are signed.
Lea Stein
Lea Stein was born in Paris and married Fernand Steinberger in the 1950s. She was once a designer for Cocoa Chanel. In the 1960s she left Chanel and formed her own jewellery company making unusual and original jewellery items, with the help of her Husband who was a chemist. He created the formula used to create the the laminated celluloid which her jewellery is made of. Prices vary according to whether it is an early or recent piece and its rarity.
Lemoine, Jean
French Art Deco sculptural artist. He used several pseudonyms including Lemo and Melo, and Le Jan (which he used on his ceramic pieces) and Janle and also his full name Jean Lemoine. He designed many statues produced by the Le Verrier foundry including the Don Quixote and his side kick Sancho Panza bookends and Bacchanale which are actually signed Janle. He created the statue and sold it to the Le Verrier foundry. Many statues by Lemoine were created by the Le Verrier foundry.
Le Faguays, Pierre (1892 – 1962)
Pierre 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 Tanager and sports and theatrical dancers. A genius for the depiction of movement in his statues, he gained a medal of honour for his work in 1927. He used 2 pseudonyms as well as his own name and they were Fayral on his art metal pieces and Pierre Laurel on some of his bronze pieces. Fayral was a family name, his wife was Raymonde Guerbe and many of her non bronze items were also produced by the Le Verrier foundry including the Espana lamp, Reverie and Automne.
Le Faguays was a leading sculptor and his work is frequently praised for its high quality and attention to anatomical accuracy. He also produced designs for Goldscheider in Paris under the ‘La Stele’ label. He worked in several mediums including ivory, bronze, spelter, stone, wood, alabaster and ceramics. He studied with his friend Max Le Verrier and was a good friend of both Marcel Bouraine and Max Le Verrier and indeed the Le Verrier foundry produced many of the Le Faguays statues in art metal. All three had studied together at the Beaux Arts in Geneva and remained life-long friends.
I have been lucky to have purchased the original transfer of ownership documents of the popular figural items – Amazone Aux Javelot, Olympie, Antiope, Jeanesse, Lysis, Message of Love, Verite, Trophee and many others from Le Faguays to Max Le Verrier, all documents signed in ink by Le Faguays and Le Verrier.
Lehmann, Les Neveux de J. Lehmann
A bronze foundry run by two brothers, Jules and Hugo Levy in Paris. Very active in the 1920s and 1930s, the company produced items by Gennarelli, Kelety, Pina and Le Faguays, exhibiting at many of the Paris Salons and exhibitions during this time.
Le Verrier, Max (1891 – 1973)
Louis Octave Maxime LE VERRIER was born in Neuilly sur Seine on January 29, 1891. His mother was Belgian and his father was a Parisian goldsmith and jeweller in Paris. They divorced when he was 7 years old. Max attended several boarding schools (College de Verneuil sur Avre) and was a brilliant student.
He was interested in drawing and sculpture from a young age and he practiced talents on wooden rulers, which he turned into little houses, churches, and other small items. His father thought that his future lay in farming, therefore he sent Max to study agriculture (St Sever and La Reole) against Max’s wishes.
Max kept alive his liking for sculpture during his spare time. His Father disowned him and Max was left to fend for himself. At the age of 16, he returned to Paris and did odd jobs to escape farm-work and to provide for himself. In 1909 when he was 18, he left for England. As a foreigner, it was very difficult for him to find a job in London but he refused to go back to France and admit defeat, he lived a poor existence. He met a Frenchman named Jameson who bought a plane on credit, and together they opened an aviation school. Max worked on the planes for him and learned to fly and gained his pilots license in 1913.
He was then called up for military service as a pilot.
On May 25th 1915, he was shot down by two German fighter planes during an air battle. His fighter was riddled with bullets, and his engineer was killed behind him. Fortunately, he was not hurt but managed to land behind the enemy lines and was classified as ‘missing in action’. He received the Military Medal posthumously and the Croix de Guerre 1914 – 1918.
Max was sent to a prisoner of war camp in Munster, in Westphalia (German region), where he stayed for 3 years. As he was a pilot and non-commissioned officer, he was not forced to work, and he asked for tools and modelling clay and began sculpting seriously. He made friends with other artists in the camp, such as Bardin, a wood carver. He portrayed friends, and created a statuette of a Russian. From time to time the professional and amateur artists of the camp held an art exhibition.
After serving in the war he studied at the Beaux Arts in Geneva furthering his talent for art work and sculpture. He studied along side the now famous sculptors Pierre Le Faguays and Marcel Bouraine who became his life long friends. He was later to produce many pieces for them at his Atelier in Paris, which he opened in 1919. Here he produced his very first commercial sculpture ‘The Pelican’ which was to be the first of many wonderful pieces of his vast and very versatile collection of statues. His foundry also produced the works of other artists like Fayral and Guerbe (pseudonyms used by Le Faguays), Le Faguays, Derenne and Briand (pseudonyms used by Bouraine), Bouraine, Masson, Charles, Becquerel, Janle, Denis, De Marco, Garcia.
Max Le Verrier appears to have been very particular who he would produce pieces for and their standard of work had to be as high as his own, as all of the Le Verrier foundry items are of exceptional quality and bear a similar stylisation. Statues were produced in different forms and sizes. For example the large ‘Group Atalante’ by Demarco was produced in a large and a smaller version both had a lady and a leaping gazelle on the base. The same De Marco lady was produced on her own without the gazelle, in a large and small size and it was called ‘Atalante’. Many of the statues were produced in two different sizes. Often the same subject would be produced as both a statue and as a lamp. His work was very versatile and showed amazing movement. He won a gold medal from the Salon in 1925, this period was known as his animal period when he produced many lions, panthers, horses, monkeys, squirrels, hippos, dogs and birds. Most of the Le Verrier pieces were produced in the company’s secret formula metal that they called ‘art cast’. It is a grey metal often confused as bronze due to its weight and quality. The moulds were designed by Max Le Verrier himself. Some bronzes were also produced and so were some ceramic and terra-cotta pieces, each sculpture being hand finished. Le Verrier is in my opinion one of the best sculptors of the art deco years. Probably his most famous piece is ‘Clarte’ the nude lady lamp (produced in 1928) which came in 4 sizes – the largest being life sized – each has a different name. As is the case with many artists he may have used as many as 6 different models for each statue to produce what he saw as the perfect woman. In his early years he (along with many other artists) used a pseudonym which was ‘Artus’ this can often be seen on the vulture statues and wall lights. His foundry is famous for the production of very stylish lights, statues, busts, ashtrays, dishes, bookends, car mascots and paper weights. His pieces are of the highest quality and highly collectable, Max Le Verrier was in my opinion a genius and a top artist.
Le Verrier, Jean Paul (1922 – 1996)
Son of Max Le Verrier. He studied drawing and sculpture at the Beaux Arts school in Toulouse from 1939 to 1943 (he received an award ‘Prix de la Peinture’ in 1943), and at the Beaux Arts School in Paris from 1945 to 1949. He was an interior designer for exhibitions and designed French pavilions for international fairs. At the same time he continued painting and sculpting.
He made humorous drawings, created a lot of posters, and after his father’s death, made humorous bronze sculptures, Chat a la boule, Chat guerdon, ashtrays and book-ends.
He carried on with his fathers business after the 2nd world war and continued after Max Le Verrier’s death.
Both Max and Jean Paul was active in the Resistance during the war and Jean Paul created many propaganda posters for the movement and I have several in my collection along with a a plaster panel made by Max of Jean Paul and also an oil of Max by Jean Paul.
Lenci
Italian faience factory based in Turin, founded in 1920 by Ettore Scavini and has wife Elena Konig Scavini. She designed many of the Lenci wall masks.
Leonard, Agathon (1841 – 1923)
A Belgian artist who studied in Lille under the guidance of Eugene Delaplanche. Most of his work was in bronze and ivory in the art nouveau style. His ceramic pieces were produced by Sevres, Gionori, Sesto Florentino and Heubach in Germany. His bronze pieces were produced by Susse Freres
LEONARDI (LEONARDENE CO.)
English Manufacturer of what the firms advertising department called ‘Art Models – Figures designed and modelled in England’. These items were made during the 1920’s and 30s and the owner of the Company was called Leonardi. The Company was based in Elthone Road, Holloway London. They produced a wide range of plaster Art Deco figures, which included Ladies, lady lamps, Bookends, Mirror ladies, Men, Children, Animals and wall masks.
The early lady lamps were mounted on chrome bases, and many or the same figures were put to different uses. You could often get a certain model as a figure and as a lamp. Each Leonardi item was stamped on the back of the base, usually with a registration number, model number and the distinct CL initials which are stamped on top of each other. Each model number was given a name and was available in a selection of different colours, which included Jade, Matt Rose, Pearl, Green Pearl, Metallic, Copper-Green, Green-Gold, and Silver-Blue. Other colours were obtainable by special order. These pieces were made as affordable items for the general public and today are highly sought after and very collectible.
The quality and style of the Leonardi pieces is not the usual poor quality found in your average Deco plaster figures. Even Biba during the 1970s reproduced some of the Leonardi lamps, these ones are of course not stamped.
Leune Studio Glass
The Leune studios were situated in Paris, France and produced lots of art deco items in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The studio director was Auguste Heiligeinstein, and the glass was made by Daum in Nancy or Croismare and supplied to the Leune artisans who hand decorated them. Pieces were of the same period, style and quality as Daum, Muller, Schneider, Degue and Noverdy.
Leune
Hand painted enamel glass items.
Called the Societe des Anonyme des Etablissements, Leune’s glass factory was in Paris, France at 28 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, established around 1900. During the 1920’s Paul Daum (brother of Jean Louis Daum) worked as the director of this company. In the years 1923-1926 they employed Auguste-Claude Heiligenstein as art designer. The company of Daum Freres & Cie, Verreries de Nancy supplied the unpainted items that were hand decorated after designs by Heiligenstein. The company closed at some time during the early 1930’s. All enamel painted items where signed with Leune. While press-moulded vases have a printed stamp. It is possible that the company also made lamps that were signed Leunox.
Levy, Jules & Hugo (brothers)
This is the Les Neveux de J. Lehman foundry in Paris, it was located at 14 Avenue de lâ Opera. They produced bronzes for – Le Faguays, Gennarelli, Kelety, Guiraude Riviere and Pina to name but a few.
Leyritz, Leon Marie de Leyritz
born 7th January 1888 in Paris. Versatile statuary artist worked in many materials including bronze, lead, aluminium, spelter, stone and ceramics. Studies under J P Aube and Mercie. Won Prix Chenavard in 1914. Exhibited at the Paris Salons winning many medals and prizes between 1912 and 1931. Specialising in theatrical decor, he producing many busts and bas-reliefs of theatrical personalities and subjects.
Lindsey B (her surname is Balkwill)
Trained in graphic design at the St Martins School of Art in London. Focusing on 3D form after a fortuitous encounter with John Taylor, who was the principal sculptor to Adel Roostein Mannequins. She was to work with John for ten year, during which time she experimented with technique and materials to evolve a style which evoked enthusiastic critical acclaim. In 1983 with the introduction of a range of decorative ceramic, plaster and resin sculpture, the company of Lindsey B was formed.
The collection was first shown in London and New York, and subsequently exhibited in major cities across Europe and America. Lindsey B reproductions were distributed throughout the world. Alongside her decorative work, Lindsey also developed a line of ornamental figures for use in commercial interiors and display. She also undertook specialised projects in creative advertising and the moving picture and theatrical industries. All originals were sculpted by Lindsey B at her Fulham Studios and decorative finishes were created in collaboration with her design team.
Each Lindsey B piece was individually hand-made and usually signed in the mould. Although the signature is not always easily visible as it is sometimes under the glaze. She made busts, wall plaques, candle sets, vases and other decorative items. Including a life size Garconne (waiter) and Agatha (Waitress) – which are now extremely rare – probably due to their fragility and price. Sculptures include such pieces as:- Ruby, Peking, Rick and Rachel, Luba, Brian, Brunnhilde, Blackpool girls, 3 different sizes of Garcon, Bud, Bonnie, Ted, Agatha, Mantis, Lillah, Tex, Pearl, Irmgard, Flick and Wick, and Rio. Brunnhilde was a bust bust made especially for optical stores – having deep high cheek bones for displaying glasses on.
The early Lindsey B pieces were made from 1984 before ceasing production in 1987 disillusioned with copies of her sculptures by other companies hitting the market. She carried on creating mannequins for other companies and creating other prototypes which did not go into production and is still working today. Her items are extremely collectible today and highly sought after across the world however there are many reproduction pieces on the market. In early 2020 we purchased all remaining stock directly from Lindsey B including many unique designs and prototypes.
Lipchitz, Marcelle (b. 1891)
Born 1891, lived in France and exhibited there. Moved to USA in 1941.
LIPCHYTZ, Samuel (Born Salomon Lipszyc) (1880 – 1943)
Born in the Polish provinces of Imperial Russia. He travelled to Berlin and then to Paris to practice his art. He lived in La Ruche the famous artists studio in Montparnasse, where all the vibrant artists of the time hung out. His brother Morice also became a very famous artist and his name was modified to Lipsi. Both brothers worked in ivory and in bronze, but Samuel also produced items made of marble and wood. He was also a furniture maker who inlaid ivory crustaceans into his work.
In 1943 the French police handed him to the Nazis who sent him to Auschwitz where he died.
Lypchytz, Jacques (1981 – 1973)
Born in Druskieniki in 1891, lived in France until 1941 when he fled the country and moved to the USA where he was a very successful sculptor whose genre was predominantly Cubism. Died in Capri, Italy in 1973.
Lorenzl Josef (1892 – 1950)
Josef Lorenzl was an Austrian sculptor and ceramist and one of the most famous sculptors of the Art Deco period. Most of his figures were singular slim female nudes with long legs which conveyed elegance, usually in dancing poses. Some of his figures were used to accompany mirror glass or marble clocks, lamps and also produced as bookends. He also made many figural strikers (lighters) mainly in spelter wall masks and ceramic figures.
He used various materials mainly, bronze, spelter, and bronze and ivory. Similar figures were often made in various sizes. He designed many ceramic busts, figurines and wall masks for Friedrich Goldscheider and Keramos. Lorenzl signed his pieces Lorenzl but also used abbreviations of his name, Lor, or Enzl and many pieces were unsigned.
His work was very similar to that of Dakon and at one time it was believed that Lorenzl and Dakon were one and the same artist. Lorenzl worked at the bronze foundry in the Vienna Arsenal. Whilst there he made the acquaintance of Stephan Dakon 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.
Lorenzl’s work is now highly sought after by collectors world wide and his name is known for the quality of the pieces and the designs that he produced. His pieces now command very high prices.
Lormier, Jean
Made several Bronze figures during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco Period. Very little information can be found beyond that.
Lourioux, Louis (1894 – 1930)
Born in France in the Cher in 1894, this talented potter was a contemporary of Lalique and Galle. He worked predominantly in stoneware and was noted for his glazes. His father had encouraged him to work at the porcelain factory of Buchon and Legros and he took over the running of it in 1924. He rapidly developed the company and showed imagination and technical expertise. He worked closely with Aristide Pipet, the sculptors Joe Descomps, Charles Lemanceau and Cormier.
He produced pieces for Galeries Lafayette and Primavera. Some of his pieces were salvaged from the Titanic. He died in an accident whilst driving his convertible Delahaye Grand Sport in Bourges at the young age of 35 and is buried at Foecy, where his tomb, designed by Charles Lemanceau is typical of the period between Art Nouveau and Art Deco in which he lived and worked.
The factory was then run by his wife until 1949. Pieces are marked either with the two wings, each with an ‘L’ – a play on words in French – deux ailes – two wings and two ‘L’s, or with the stamp of a running female wolf. The original Lourioux factory was bought by the Philippe Deshoulieres group, another ceramics designer, and is now run as a museum.
Luce, Jean (1895 – 1964)
A French Art Deco ceramist and glass work designer. Jean first worked in his fathers ceramics company producing table ware. He first showed his own work in 1921at the Musee Galliera in Paris and other salons. In 1923 he opened his own shop.
From 1924 he produced pieces that were heavily sand blasted in mirrored glass with geometric patterning. In 1935 he produced ceramic and glass table ware items for the Normandie ocean liner. These included the large chunky glass deeply sand blasted centre table trays in mirrored glass which are now highly sought after. These items later adopted by Compagnie Generale Transatlantique flor other ships. He taught at the Ecole des Arts Appliques in Parisand was a technical adviser at Sevres.
Ludwik, Peter (1902 – 1983)
Born in Berlin. Painter, theatrical designer, ceramic wall mask artist and sculptor. Interned as a prisoner of war.
Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868 – 1928)
Scottish architect and designer who was one of the most influential figures in the development of Art Nouveau and the Modern movement. Much admired on the continent especially by the Viennese Secessionists. Formed the ‘Glasgow Four’, which included Herbert MacNair and the Macdonald sisters. Margaret later married Mac Nair and Mackintosh married Frances.
Magrou, Jean
French sculptural artist worked in the deco years. His father was a lithographer. He studied at the Lycée Henri IV where he worked mainly on mythological bronzes. He married in Paris the niece of the painter Jean-Andre Rixens.
Professor of modelling and drawing at the Sorbonne, he participated in 1907 in the teaching cooperative created by Marie Curie. Later in his career he created a few Art Deco studies. Jean Magrou is buried in the Old Cemetery of Béziers.
Majorelle, Louis (Jean Sylvestre Majorelle) (1859 – 1926)
Born on 26th September 1859 he was a French art nouveau furniture maker and designer, in his latter years he also produced a few Art Deco designs – although they are very rare.
After 1901 formally served as one of the vice-presidents of the Ecole de Nancy. He used mainly rare and exotic fruit woods often with inlays of tortoiseshell ivory, ebony and metal. His work in wood often resembled a painting.
He used different woods to add colour to his pictorial creations on tables and cabinets. Using cherrywood, oak, walnut, ash, holly, beech and pear woods for his monochrome colours. His art nouveau work often bears the organic swirls now recognised as true art nouveau.
Most of his pieces were signed with the Majorelle inlay signature which took several different forms. The amazing works of Majorelle are now highly sought after worldwide. He died on the 15th January 1926.
Manship, Paul (b. 1885)
Born 1885 in Minnesota, USA. Studied at Pennsylvania Academy and St Paul Institute. Studied in Rome 1909-1912 and won the Prix de Rome. Exhibited in the USA and France, winning many medals and awards.
Marquet, Rene Paul (1875 – 1939)
He studied sculpture at the Ecole National des beaux arts in Paris under the guidance of Emmanuel Fontaine and Alexandre Falguiere. He worked in bronze and bronze and ivory and most of his pieces were art nouveau.
Martel Brothers (1896 – 1966)
Twins Jan and Joel Martel were born in 1896 in Nantes. They worked during the deco years and beyond until 1965 producing sculptures, monuments, fountains and other decretive Art Deco items with a cubist styling. Also carried out interior designs for top Parisienne villas.
They signed their pieces Martel. They participated in many of the Paris exhibitions and salons including the decorative arts exhibition of 1925 where they showed in collaboration with Robert Mallet-Stevens a study known as the cubist trees.
In 1926/1927 Mallet-Stevens built a mansion for the two brothers. Jeans wife was a famous painter. Both died in 1966, 6 months apart.
Martin Brothers (1873 – 1942)
The Martin Brothers (Robert Wallace Martin, Charles Douglas Martin, Walter Frazer Martin and Edwin Bruce Martin) created some of the most attractive, as well as most sinister, stonewares to have been made in Britain, personified the Arts & Crafts ideal of the artist-craftsman. In his younger years Wallace (Robert Wallace) worked as a stone carver on the decorations of the Houses of Parliament. It was here that he came into contact with the heraldic beasts & grotesque gargoyles which were to have such an influence on his work in later years. Apart from a few modelled pieces done in terracotta the majority of their pieces were salt glazed stoneware.
Massier, Clement – Ceramics
The Massier company started in 1707 and was handed down through family members. It was famous for its metallic lustre glazes. One of its best known ceramists was Jean Barol (1873 – 1966).
Masson, Jules Edward (b. 1871)
French Statuary artist born Paris 1871. Worked in conjunction with the Max Le Verrier foundry in the late 20’s and early 30’s. Received a medal of honour and several awards, mainly in the 1920’s.
Maxence, Edgard (1871 – 1954)
Born in Nantes, 1871, died in La Bernerie-en-Retz, 1954. French Symbolist painter.
He was a pupil of Jules-Elie Delaunay and Gustave Moreau at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, and helped to popularise Symbolism in the 1890’s by applying a highly finished academic technique to Symbolist subjects. His best-known paintings, which include Girl with a Peacock (before 1896, Paris) the Soul of the Forest (c. 1897 Nantes) are decorative, vaguely religious or allegorical images of beautiful women in medieval dress, influenced by early Italian Renaissance and late English Pre-Raphaelite art. Maxence often enriched the surface of his works with gold or silver foil and gilt plaster relief and mounted them in elaborate frames of his own design.
He also painted fashionable portraits such as Woman with an Orchid (1900 Paris) and Impressionist landscapes. Though he participated in the avant-garde Salon de la Rose + Croix between 1895 and 1897, Maxence exhibited successfully at the conservative Salon des Artistes Francais from 1894 to 1939 and frequently served on its committees and juries. Maxence’s work changed little in style and content after the turn of the century and, despite the condemnation of progressive critics, continued to enjoy strong middle-class patronage until the late 1930’s.
Maxim George (Geo)
There is no info on Geo Maxim, although I am very familiar with his work as I have had so many pieces by him. I believe he was a French artist worked mainly during the 1920’s and 1930s in France, produced most of his pieces in spelter (white metal) with a few bronzes, terracottas and ceramic pieces. More of a middle market sculptor, he also produced a few earlier Nouveau statues. His designs which were mainly ladies or girls were used to produce figural lamps and clocks as well as groups and statues on their own. Most famous piece was the running lady with two greyhounds.
May, Sybille
English statuary artist who worked in France in the interwar period and definitely from 1925-1935. Her work was very cubist and stylised producing work in bronze and ceramic.
She belonged to the La Stele and Evolution groups, often working with Pierre Le Faguays and Edouard Cazaux.
The Goldscheider foundry in Paris produced many of her bronzes and ceramic pieces although the publisher Albert Buisson of Editeur d’art also produced her works. Her statues are now highly sought after as they are very modernist in style.
MAYER, Nicolas
Born in Paris in mid 19th century, studied under Cordier and exhibited genre and allegorical figures at the Salon des Artistes Francais, attaining an honourable mention in 1887 and becoming an Associate in 1904. His group titled ‘The Dream’ can be seen the Roanne Museum.
Melo, (see Lemoine)
French art Deco sculptural artist – actual name Jean Lemoine. Also I believe worked under the pseudonym Lemo.
Menneville
Until recently it was thought that Menneville was a French artist who produced statues of mainly spelter and ivorine or full spelter. However now – after having discussions with the Lydia Cipriani – daughter of Ugo Cipriani my opinion has now changed. There seems to be a connection between Menneville and Cipriani. In discussions with Lydia 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 Menneville’s 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 as were many of the spelter statues. Some Menneville signed statues are titled Menneville et Rochard. I now also believe that this was due to a marriage of artists on some of the group statuary pieces, ie. a lady and a dog – where Menneville (Cipriani?) produced the lady of the group and Rochard provided the dog.
There are also two other names that occur on some of the ivorine and spelter statues in the style of Menneville/Cipriani and they are Roggia and Deviggo. Were these also pseudonyms used by Cipriani? After all it was a common practice with many of the statuary artists during the deco years to use other names. For instance – Le Faguays used Fayral, Bouraine used Derenne and Briand on their non bronze statues, Le Verrier used Artus and many other artists also used pseudonyms. Please see my information on Cipriani for dates etc.
I would like to thank Ugo Cipriani’s daughter, Lydia and son Gabriel for this important information on Menneville/Ugo Cipriani.
Mequinion, Roger (1905 – 1985)
A French ceramics artist who attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris during the deco years 1920s – 1930s. He worked for and with Lalique on sandblasting and designs. He later applied this process to ceramic items such as vases. During the 1940s he worked in Aubagne which at this time was an important art ceramic centre with many artists and workshops. The most important was Proceram. Whilst there he met the director of Proceram and started to work with this company on a process that was equivalent to the Lalique process, sand blasting but on ceramics. A thick layer of enamel type glass was applied and then using stencils sandblasted back to create shapes and figures similar to those on Lalique pieces.
Milet, Henri (1907 – 1987)
The son of Paul Milet, who like his father spent his working life at the family Porcelain factory in Sevres France. Paul Milet trained as a ceramist and took over the running of the factory in 1931, retiring in1971. An extremely talented ceramist, Milet exported to the USA large quantities of porcelain. He was also an accomplished sculptor. Production was marked MP Sevres prior to Henri taking up post. The mark was subsequently changed to PM Sevres and this has caused some confusion, with much of the production being attributed to Paul Milet. Apparently 30% of the works signed MP are in fact by Henri Milet as well as all works signed PM. This company should not be confused with the Manufacture de Porcelaine de Sevres.
Molins-Balleste, Enrique Henri (1893 – 1958)
Enrique Molins-Balleste was born in Barcelona and later moved to Paris. Molins and Balleste are one and the same artist and he would use either Molins or Balleste to sign his pieces, sometimes signing them BAL.
Some same figures are signed Molins whilst the other is signed Balleste. He also used the pseudonym – Gual (his wife’s name Gual-Cuberes.
Famous for his theatrical and genre groups and figural lighting.
Worked in different mediums – shelter, Bronze, Bronze and Ivory, ceramics and wood.
Morante, Maurice
Early 20th century sculptor.
Moreau, August (1834 – 1917)
Born in Dijon, France, he studied under Mathurin Moreau. Auguste Moreau worked as a sculptor and specialised in figures, statuettes and groups, mainly in marble. He made his debut at the 1861 Salon in Paris and continued to play an active part in the Salon des Artistes Francais as a member of the Societe des Artistes Francais until 1910. – worked 1860 – 1910, prolific nouveau spelter and bronze sculptor.
Moreau, Francois Hippolyte (1832 – 1927)
Born France 1832, he studied under Jouffroy in Paris. Exhibited at the Salon from 1863, winning a bronze medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1900. He specialised in Genre groups and figures. worked 19th century into the 20th century. Possibly used the pseudonym Franjou as there appears to be a connection.
Morlon, Alexandre (b. 1878)
Born 1878 in Macon France. He studied under Falguiere and Mercie and Exhibited at the Salon in 1900. He specialised in allegorical figures and is famous for the standing figure of Victory used for the Allied Victory medal (1918).
He modelled pieces used for coinage, medals and war memorials. Examples of his work can be found in the Mint Museum, Paris and the Ghent museum.
Morris, William (1834 – 1896)
Morris was one of the founders of the Arts & Crafts Movement and closely involved with the Pre-Raphaelite artists of the mid 19th c. His ideal of integrating art, literature and graphic design inspired a generation of artists like Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Millais and Waterhouse to name but a few. Morris was an English poet, writer, designer, artist and socialist reformer. He rejected the opulence of the Victorian era and urged a return to medieval traditions of design, craftsmanship and community. He pioneered modern renderings of antique styles of type as well as the production of high quality home furnishings to last for generations. In 1861, he founded the firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. with Gabriel Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Madox Brown and Philip Webb and in January 1891 He founded the Kelmscott Press.
Muller Freres (c1900 – 1933)
A wonderful glass making firm mainly known for their cameo glasswares, run by the brothers, Henri and Desiree Muller. Based in Luneville, near Nancy and Croismare. The brothers initially worked with Emile Galle.
MULLER, Charles Arthur (b. 1868)
A sculptural artist who studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts Paris and studied under Hector Lemaire. Worked in bronze, bronze and ivory and ceramics.