STRIKING ART DECO

The term ‘Art Deco’ derives from the ‘Exposition des Arts Decoratifs’ held in Paris in 1925. It was an International Exhibition to showcase the best in design and manufacture in the decorative arts.
Today, very often the term has been used to represent perhaps misleadingly anything from the 1920’s/1930’s with a vague Art Deco feel to it. Some key words associated with the best Art Deco are luxury, classicism, craftsmanship, sophistication and innovative. Art Deco is a well established collecting field, and understandably so as the designs fit in with today’s interior design tastes with many affordable pieces available. Many pieces are timeless and that adds great appeal. Anything from a vintage wireless set to a tea set could be described as Art Deco if it possesses all of the right hallmarks. To get the overall look of the 1920’s/30’s, observe the television sets of Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Jeeves and Wooster.

The subject of Art Deco is huge so for the purpose of this we take a closer look at Art Deco in figurative sculpture.

The female form in Art Deco sculpture was freed from the classical restraints of nineteenth century sculpture and many were represented in dancing movement. This is illustrated in the fine example shown. Ferdinand Preiss (1882-1943) is widely considered one of the major exponents of chryselephantine works of art, ranking alongside the likes of Demetre Chiparus, Otto Poertzel and Bouraine amongst others. ‘Chryselephantine is simply a work of art made form a combination of ivory, metal and sometimes precious stones. It was a technique much in favour at the time of the ancient Greeks for large-scale figures such as the giant work of the sculptor Phydia who fashioned a huge statue of Athena for the Acropolis. These materials suited the classical roots of the best in Art Deco sculpture.

Dating from the mid 1920’s, the Preiss figure is titled ‘Con Brio’ and is mounted on a pyramid green onyx and black marble plinth which is signed. This example sold recently by Richard Winterton for £12,000. Not all examples command such high values, as cold painted bronze pieces by Lorenzl and minor British examples of the 1930’s can be purchased in the hundreds of pounds. However the high values that many Art Deco chryselephantine figures command at auction has resulted in fakes appearing on the market. Some are better than others, although these should be easily identifiable as resin has been used to simulate the ivory.

Valuations of all manner of decorative arts, (including ceramics, glass, pictures and jewellery) are held at our two salerooms and valuation offices throughout Staffordshire. Please phone 01283 511224 for further information on this service.