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VASES cont.

The flowering of a perfect union.

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Bud Vase

Six bronze vases in varying sizes provide a profile of Erté's gifts as the most important artist-designer of the 20th century. One large, three medium and two small Erté vases comprise a wonderful beginning for a lie", collector

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Oriental Mystery

It is important to remember three points about the Style vase: (1) its lifestyle significance, (2) its story and (3) its design. Regarding lifestyle, the very title of the piece

Fantasy Vase

We have to go back to September 1921 for the story behind this piece. A woman is depicted in her boudoir where she is dressed and ready to go out for the evening (note: this is the same moment captured in the hand mirror All Sails Up). Hiding behind a screen, she is looking at herself in a mirror, pausing to adjust her drape arid grab a fresh flower before she departs.

Style Vase

The design is the strength of this unusual vase. Notice the irregular shape of the top which is the line made by a folding screen. The screen is decorated in round and oval relief?s which have been carefully polished to reveal the color of natural bronze. In the original piece, Erté made the screen a lamp by hiding light bulbs in the white jade reliefs. At the bottom of each design motif on the panels, Erté has finished them with a sensuous teardrop. It is from the design of this stylish screen that the design statement of draping evolves. The circles, ovals and teardrops seem to be draped on the screen panels rather than being a part of them. Her hair is draped on her head. The dress is draped over her body. The belt and tassel are draped from her waist and hand. Finally, look at how the flowers are draped from the floor vase. Another wonderful design element is the base: (1) the fusion of the vase and the base is elegant, (2) the base shape alone is worth examining (six sides) and (3) the beveled edge of the base reflects the beveled edge of the top of the screen. 'fires magnifique!


Chapeau

The Chapeau vase is one of Erté?s most important objects of art for three reasons. First, it is a reflection of Erté's fascination with the small and delicate. As a child he was influenced by the Persian miniatures in the Hermitage Museum. Chapeau has a detail and precision of line not found on leis other vases. Second, the vase contains two images rather than one image repeated twice. Third, the subject matter - with its beautiful patina illustrates the blending of the Oriental and deco imagery of the 1920s.
Fantasy is the most sculptural of the Erte vases. This stately vase is cast in bronze utilizing the lost wax process. The vase depicts three women, elegant and sumptuously clothed, standing out from the surface in high relief. But behind each of them are etched five men. It has been stated by Erte that every woman needs at least five different males in her life, for no one man can satisfy her various needs for friendship, sex, wealth, companionship and power. Who exactly are each of these men? Friend, confidant, mentor, husband, lover? Only the woman knows their true identity and true role.

Celebration 90

The largest and rarest Erte vase is Celebration 93, standing 15+" high and 11" wide. It is cast in bronze in an edition of only 93 (plus artist's proofs). Celebration 93 is described by art dealers as an object so special that they do not want to sell it. It is a commemorative piece celebrating Erte at age 93 and his lifetime accomplishments. This spectacular vase depicts eight art deco women in beautiful evening attire celebrating a joyous evening. In this party atmosphere, four women are sculpted in all possible dimensions - negative, etched and positive base reliefs -- and then the pattern is repeated. This varied dimensionality and the mixed media patinas, including white gold, arc really what bring this piece to life.