Simona Oprea
Head of Oriental Art, Traditional Art & Carpets Evaluation Office; Chinese Language Certificate HSK 4
29. Gallé Showcase, in Art Nouveau style, made of walnut wood, inlaid with iris flowers, water lilies and dragonfly, circa 1905
The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
29. Gallé Showcase, in Art Nouveau style, made of walnut wood, inlaid with iris flowers, water lilies and dragonfly, circa 1905
Not sold
Selling price
EUR 1.944
lemn; furnir; cristal, 160 x 130 x 33 cm, signed "Galle" on the right front panel
The display cabinet made in the workshops of Émile Gallé is a masterpiece of the French Art Nouveau movement and embodies the synthesis of craftsmanship, nature-inspired design, and philosophical symbolism that defined Gallé's mature work. Created in his final years, this piece reflects both his technical virtuosity in marquetry, as well as his deep commitment to the aesthetic and intellectual currents of his time.
Built from a harmonious blend of exotic and native wood, the cabinet features finely detailed marquetry illustrating botanical motifs - probably stylized flowers or plants native to the Lorraine region, where Gallé's workshop was based. These natural forms are not just decoration, but are an integral part of the structure, flowing organically over surfaces in a way that blurs the boundary between furniture and sculpture. The asymmetrical and curvilinear contours are a distinctive hallmark of Art Nouveau, reflecting Gallé's affinity for Japanese design and the sinuous rhythms of nature.
The object requires restoration.
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SESSION
Brought to you by
Simona Oprea
Head of Oriental Art, Traditional Art & Carpets Evaluation Office; Chinese Language Certificate HSK 4
