Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Yet More Artistic Insects

Now my last post on the early 20th Century French Decorative Arts.  There were many motifs derived from nature in the work of the time, but the insects made me laugh....

The first three depict bees, moths and dragonflies in fairly literal ways, although made from gold, gems, pearls and enamel.

Pendant de Cou Bourdons, or Cisele par Vever, 1908 

R. Lalique - Bijou  1907

Broche Libellules Émaillées par Paul Lienard (1908)
(Enamelled Dragonfly Brooch)
page 774,  La bijouterie française au XIXe siècle (1800-1900). 3 / par Henri Vever 

This brooch and pendant show how the forms or details of insects were incorporated into the line and gesture of designs of the time.  Neither of these depict actual insects but you can see the sweep of wings or the form derived from them,


Bijoux de M.H.Vever

Pendant de cou érable, email, diamants, émeraudes et perle par Georges Fouquet (1906)
Necklace Pendant, maple, enamel, diamonds, emeralds and pearl

These final two have evolved into a human-insect hybrid.  Very graceful, but just a bit creepy.....

 Broche par Lalique
.
Ornement de Corsage Libellule, émaux translucides par Lalique 
(exposition de 1909)  (Dragonfly Corsage Ornament, translucent enamels by Lalique)

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