Vase by Camille Faure, 1930s

Art Deco Vase, Camille Fauré Limoges, ca. 1930, enamel copper, signed The lavishly designed vases by Camille Fauré represent the French decorative arts of the Art Deco period like few other objects. Limoges can look back on a centuries-old tradition in the processing of enamel, and the Fauré workshop set another milestone in this field. Camille Fauré himself designed the geometric as well as floral patterns in gouache. These were then applied to copper vase bodies in an elaborate process in enamel and other materials. Only a small series of each pattern was produced by hand, sometimes taking weeks to create. Our slightly diamond-shaped vase form bears the resonant name “Isidora”. Rosé and violet set the tone here, combined with off-white, black and gold. The upper part is dominated by segmented circular shapes, while an extravagant drape in the lower part gives the vessel a certain kinetic dynamism. Particularly delicately designed are the white fields running towards a pink hue. The incorporated gold foil with a crackled look additionally pimps the vase glamorously. Its plastic contours, the partly ice-like surface design and the metallic shimmering look give the object a three-dimensional liveliness and at the same time allow the viewer a haptic experience. Enamel works of this size are very complex to produce because different enamel colors had to be fired at different temperatures. Fauré succeeded in producing outstanding enamel art of this size like hardly any other manufactory. signed in gold „C. Fauré Limoges“ on lower part of the vase; at the bottom older label of auction house Christie’s Bib.: Alberto Shayo, Camille Fauré. Limoges Art Déco Enamels. The Geometry of Joy, Antique Collectors Club, 2007, see aluminum prototype vase “Isidora”. p. 51; cf. vase with same shape but different decoration p. 173