Rare French Art Deco Grand Figural
Female Nude Statue / Lamp
After Max LeVerrier (1981 - 1973)
Clarte Nymph, near life size statue
Circa 1928 design, Mid- 20th Century issue, France
Wonderful and famous statue by Art
Deco's best known sculptors, Max le Verrier.
Known as 'Clarte', symbolizing the goddess of light, this is perhaps
the most famous of all Art Deco sculptures.
This illuminated statue was made in 4 sizes, this size being the
largest and rarest.
LeVerrier used three live models for
this statue, in order to create the image of what he felt was the
perfect woman. One model was used for her head, with a short, boyish
bob haircut, that was the trend of the time. Another model was used
for her feminine upper torso. The model he used for her legs was an
African American dancer from Josephine Baker's show.
The Clarte form was also used to
create a candlestick design and a compote, with Clarte holding a
bowl
instead of a lighted globe. Clarte has been exhibited many times
over the years, as recently as the year
2000 at the Martinez hotel in Cannes.
Dimensions: Base: 15" in diameter.
Height: 55" to the tip of her nose, 60" to the top of the globe.
She is 35" wide from the side, from the globe to the back of her
head. Her hips are 11" wide.
Globe: 11" diameter, crackle textured clear globe.
Condition: The statue is in
excellent original condition. The original bronze patina is intact.
The crackle glass globe shows it's age, with a patina and some minor
chips around opening,
of course they do not show when the globe is resting in her hands.
The original wiring has been cut so
this will be re-wired upon purchase as requested by the next owner.
Item # DAS114:
Price: $ 29,000.
Price includes re-wiring.
Bio: Max
LeVerrier was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, in
1891. From an early age he showed great promise as an artist and
sculptor; and after serving in the French army during World War
I, he studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Geneva. During his
studies in Switzerland he met fellow sculptors Pierre le Faguays
and Marcel Bouraine, who became close friends and with whom he
collaborated for much of his life. Upon completing his studies,
le Verrier returned to France in 1919, and founded his own
studio in Paris. It was at this time that he created his first
popular sculpture - the famous 'Pelican' - which was the first
of a long line of animal figures that bore his name. At this
time, LeVerrier used various pseudonyms on his pieces, such as 'Artus'.
LeVerrier was
awarded a Gold medal for his sculptures at the 1925 Paris
l'Exposition des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels (the famous
exhibition from which the term 'Art Deco' was derived). In 1926,
Le Verrier opened his own foundry, casting pieces for a wide
range of French sculptors of the period, including Pierre Le
Faguays, Marcel Bourain, Janle, Denis, and Charles. From the
outset, he gained a reputation for the very high quality work,
exceptional detailing and accuracy of the items that his firm
produced. At the same time as running his foundry, le Verrier
continued to sculpt his own creations, and in the 1920's he
became famous for his studies of woman as part of the Art Deco
era's fascination with the ideal female form. His female figures
are characterised by a lithe athleticism and perfect symmetry;
and are highly regarded and much sought after. The most famous
of his states, Clarte, was made in 4 sizes from 3 live models.
LeVerrier continued
working throughout the 1930's - receiving a medal of honour at
the Paris International Exhibition in 1937 - before being
arrested in 1944 for his resistance activities against the
Nazi-backed regime. He re-opened his studio after World War II,
and continued to sculpt until his death in 1973.
Additional photos below:
