A truly stunning HUGE French hand painted art deco crackle glaze terracotta dancer.

A  very rare and important statue. She takes my breath away! so I may decide to keep her.

Designed by the French artist Raymonde Guerbe (wife of Pierre Le Faguays) in 1920.

This same model was also made in bronze.

I believe this statue is actually modelled as herself as similarities shown in the Le Verrier book on page 100 show her with the same face and bobbed hair in a photograph. She was also once a dancer with the Isadora Duncan dance school in her early years.

Her husband Pierre Le Faguays used her as his muse on most of his statues.

This statue has been used on the cover of the Les Craqueles Art Deco book by Alain-Rene Hardy & Bruno Giardi and is shown again on page 248/249 as a centre fold. The one in the book is a cream crackle glaze – its much nicer in this one with the use of the vivid colours.

Made by the Evolution company and marked evolution under the base along with VR Gonse Ceramiste markings. I believe both Guerbe, Le Faguays and Bouraine were founders of the Evolution company. Indeed the 3 of them were close freinds along with Max and Jean Le Verrier and Bourains partner Aurora Onu who was also a deco statuary artist.

Signed to the back Guerbe.

She measures an enormous 33 inches (84cm) long, 22 inches (56cm) high, 11 inches (28cm) deep.

Condition is good with a small firing crack under glaze to the back of her scarf  (probably there from new) and a few age related nibbles around the inner rim under the base.

POA