A Private Collection Of Lalique Creations To Be Auctioned In Paris By Sotheby’s

A uncommon personal assortment of 39 creations by famed French designer, René Lalique, will likely be provided by Sotheby’s Paris on December 17.

The jewels and objets d’artwork that will likely be offered have been collected over a lifetime by Claude Henri Roger Sorbac, who died on the age of 100 in March. Sorbac, a local of France, lived in Argentina for a number of years earlier than returning to Paris. His mother and father have been expert collectors, which is how he developed his eager eye for artistic endeavors and design. He collected the works of a variety of artists earlier than specializing in René Lalique.

The items within the sale have estimates starting from €400 to €1.5 million ($452 – $1.6 million). A number of have been introduced in exhibitions all through the world. Among the many highlights is a horn and diamond backcomb titled, “Loving Swallows” with an estimate of €400,000 – €600,000 ($451,740 – $677,610), and a necklace titled, “Frogs,” fabricated from glass, enamel and diamonds with an estimate of €300,000 – €600,000 ($338,805 – $677,610). The highest lot within the sale is a hair comb fabricated from ivory, horn, enamel and diamond adorned with an orchid with an estimate of €700,000 – €1.5 million ($790,545 – $1,6 million).

One other merchandise of notice is a glass, enamel and diamond headband titled, “Pansies,” with an estimate of €150,000 – €300,000 ($169,403 – $338,805). Sotheby’s relates a notice from Sorbac that speculates on what makes the piece particular: “‘La pensée’ isn’t a random selection; in French, the time period means each ‘pansy’ and ‘thought.’ Within the language of flowers, when a person offers pansies to a girl, he is considering her. A husband or lover who gave this headband to his sweetheart was subsequently expressing a message of tenderness, affection and faithfulness. The girl who proudly wore it was laying declare to the identical emotions and associations.”

There are a number of different examples of stylish pendants and different jewels which can be simply identifiable as Lalique masterworks. Nonetheless, these works are complemented with a number of sudden objects which reveal René Lalique’s creativity and his inventive connections to numerous cultural circles of the time. They embody a desk lamp, bronze dishes, a gold and suede night bag, a patinated bronze plaque of Ophelia, and a set of silver plated and bronze medals.

Lalique (1860 – 1945) was recognized all through the world for his glass creations, notably his ornate Artwork Nouveau jewels. Nonetheless, he additionally labored with horn, ivory, semi-precious stones, enamel, tortoiseshell, bronze, copper and different supplies. These supplies have been seldom utilized in jewellery previous to Lalique. In a number of situations, these supplies have been combined with extra “noble” supplies corresponding to diamonds and gold. His pendants, brooches and necklaces have been to grow to be probably the most consultant examples of Artwork Nouveau jewellery, in keeping with vintage and jewellery specialists. Emile Gallé – the well-known French glassmaker, ceramist and cabinetmaker – referred to as Lalique “the inventor of modern jewelry.”

His works continued to have broad enchantment and obtain vital acclaim through the Artwork Deco interval, the place he started fashioning objects starting from fragrance bottles to giant scale inside design initiatives. For the 1925 Worldwide Exposition of Trendy Industrial and Ornamental Arts, which introduced the Artwork Deco type to the world, he constructed a 40-foot excessive, illuminated pressed-glass fountain referred to as Les Sources de France (The Springs of France). The fountain featured giant glass statuettes depicting 13 completely different girls from historical Greek mythology.

Previous to the public sale, the objects within the sale will likely be obtainable for public viewing December 11 – 14 and by personal appointment December 15 and 16 at Sotheby’s Paris location at 76, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.