1930s Art Deco Chryselephantine Sculpture • Signed Max Le Verrie

Here’s a truly stunning and exceptional large Art Deco silvered chryselephantine Art Deco sculpture; designed by Max le Verrier and manufactured at the le Verrier foundry in Paris in the 1930s. It features a superbly-sculpted figure of a semi-nude classical female figure holding a Grecian urn. This stunning sculpture – which measures a tall 16-1/8″ in height – is superbly cast in le Verrier’s proprietary metal, which has the weight and feel of bronze. The grecian urn is sculpted from tusk. This piece is signed ‘M. Le Verrier’ on the base (see photos); and is in excellent condition, with no faults whatsoever, other than some minor wear and spotting to the silvered finish. This is overall, a truly spectacular Art Deco sculpture from one of the greatest of the period’s sculptors and sure to be an important addition to any le Verrier, chryselephantine or Art Deco sculpture collection.

About Max Le Verrier:
Max le Verrier 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. Le Verrier 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. Interestingly, the foundry did not cast in bronze as is commonly assumed, because le Verrier felt that he could achieve better detail by using his own proprietary mix of metals. 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. Le Verrier continued working throughout the 1930′s – receving 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 reopened his studio after World War II, and continued to sculpt until his death in 1973.