French Art Deco

Paul Philippe

'Irony’

Gilt Bronze & Marble Sculpture

ca. 1925

Dimensions

Height: 11.25 in (28.58 cm)         Width: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)         Depth: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)         Base height: 3.5 in (8.75 cm)

'Irony'

'Irony' is one of several works by the famous French sculptor, Paul Philippe that make up his celebrated series of outstandingly beautiful female nude figures in various natural states, moods and emotions, including such outstanding sculptures as 'Thoughtfulness', 'Awakening', ‘Irony’ and others. Each model was cast in two versions - large and reduced. In this case, we present the original (larger version) of the famous sculpture. Signed ‘P. Philippe’ and foundry stamp ‘Fonderie AG Paris’ on the bottom of the bronze plinth affixed on the original marble base of a totally unusual shape.

Paul Philippe (French, 1870 - 1930)

The famous French sculptor, Paul Philippe was born in the town of Thorn in Poland. In 1899-1915, he lived and worked in Paris, studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, in the studio of Antonin Larroux (1859-1913), whose allegorical compositions, made in the neoclassical style, were repeatedly awarded prestigious awards at the Paris Salons.

Working in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, Philip is one of the few sculptors who worked not only with the usual clay, bronze or stone, but also with porcelain, wood, as well as wax, ivory, chryselephantine, and decorated some of his works with precious stones. While working for a time in Berlin, he sometimes employed the Rosenthal und Maeder (R.U.M.), and Preiss-Kassler foundries to cast his work.

All his models are distinguished by extreme refinement and delicacy of forms. The master paid special attention to the quality of the finish and the selection of spectacular patina. Thanks to shades of brown, gilded and silvered patinas, his sculptures looked unusually impressive and life-likPaul Philippe occupies a special place, no matter how trite it may sound, in the history of small Art Deco plastics for he is a servant of two art schools, German and French, who implemented this unique combination fruitfully simultaneously in both, France and Weimar Germany.

Paul Philippe specialized mainly in female images. A number of the pieces he created were of figures in the nude, which was popular during the era. Some compositions include images of animals (‘Girl with a Dog’, for example). Particularly frequent characters in Philippe’s sculptural compositions were real-life and well-known faces to the sculptor - cabaret dancers, theater artists, demimondaine.

After the end of the First World War, Philip moved to Germany, however, the sculptor's artistic and personal ties with Paris were not interrupted. He created many sculptures, from miniature figurines to impressive monuments, looking at which you hold your breath while eagerly admiring the skill of the author. Paul Philippe was called by some a sculptor-archeologist for his exceptionally accurate portraits of people who lived several thousand years ago.

Philippe's work is exhibited in the Art Deco Museum in Moscow, Russia, one of the newest museums in Russian capital, opened in 2014. His work is also a part of other major museum and private collections around the world.

Paul Philippe died in 1930, but the location of his burial site is unknown.

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