A very fine late 19th Century Art Nouveau bronze figure of a young farm girl carrying a laden basket with very fine colour and excellent had finished surface detail, raised on a marble base and signed Aug Moreau

Captivating late 19th Century French bronze bust of a beautiful woman, enhanced by the variegated rich brown patination and excellent tactile surface detail, raised on an integral bronze base with raised title to the fore. Signed E Villanis and further raised on a breche griotte stepped and shaped marble plinth

A dramatic black glass vase decorated with striking satin finished enamel swirls against a polished background, signed Lalique France.

A beautiful patinated Art Nouveau bronze bust of a young Art Nouveau beauty with excellent variegated rich brown patina and excellent hand chased surface detail, signed E.Villanis & titled and with Societe des Bronzes foundry pastille.

Emmanuel Villanis

Emmanuel Villanis was an industrious man. He is believed to have created some 200 to 250 pieces. His oeuvre pre-eminently consisted of busts and full body statues. Most of these were manufactured in bronze, but there are also models in white metal and terra cotta. Different patinas were used. The bronzes were mainly cast by the Societé de Bronzes de Paris and can be recognised by the round stamp (cachet) at the back of the statue. In addition, reliefs, vases, lamps, clocks and ink stands are recorded . Vases and lamps were mostly made of tin, and there are also marble statues. Pieces in which ivory is used are as rare as silver statues.

Villanis was inspired by women. He dedicated almost his complete works to them. One model in particular was portrayed many times by him. His portrayals of children may be less known, but are nevertheless wonderfully done. His statues are always in perfect proportion and are full of expression: dreamy-eyed, happy, sirene, indifferent, cheeky, serious, sad, detached, melancholy.

His style can always be recognised by his use of hollowed out eyeballs. The name of the statue can usually be found on the base in scrolled script and the signature of Emmanuel Villanis is always visible and legible.

An unusual late French Art Nouveau tall slender cameo glass vase decorated with raised deep orange falling leaves against a mint green field. Exhibiting excellent detail and colour, signed Galle in cameo.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Height:                                     8.5 cm

Diameter:                                  6.5 cm

Condition:                        Excellent Original Condition

Circa:                                    1900

Materials:                           Etched and Enamelled Cameo Glass                  

SKU:                                                6625

ABOUT

Daum’s unique technique common to all was that a clear vessel was blown with colour only on the inner surface or layer. An acid resist landscape was painted free-hand onto the vessel which was then etched by plunging into a hydrofluoric acid bath. The outer surface was then polished which gave the trees a ‘third dimension’ as the onlooker can see through the clear glass to the inner colour. Then the background was frosted, tricking the eye into thinking it is seeing coloured glass.

Three types of enamel were painted by the artist to complete the design: transparent enamel for the three dimensional trees, opaque enamel for the snow or the ground and a polychrome enamel for the details in the distance which could be hills or trees. Finally the piece was reintroduced to the heat to anneal the enamels with the base glass.

Some very rare examples such as the ‘Deep Winter’ design had an additional and more complicated process of applying a layer of cameo glass to the outer body before painting the acid resist. This had the effect of giving a more dense layer of snow or summer fields that could be further worked to give additional features in the landscape.

The many landscape vases of Daum were always examples of excellence and the skill of several different craftsmen.