Down to Part II

Fine objects that hold a world of significance.

Since Erté's bowls were primarily designed as centerpieces for tables, it is appropriate to discuss them after candlesticks and candelabras. The Fruit of Life bowl is a quintessential Erte object embodying whimsy, beauty and adoration. Additionally, this piece is all original bronze work of art having been cast using the lost wax process at the same foundry Erte uses to cast his sculpture.

For Erté woman in all of her marvelous forms and shapes is the Fruit of Life. In this adoration of woman's form and beauty,
Erte again shows his whimsy by the derriere shape of the bowl. Functionally, it is designed to hold fruit or dried flowers. The beauty derives not only front its novel shape, but also from tile composition. The woman's face and imaginative hat are perfectly, proportioned so that the overall design is inviting and seductive. Lastly, note the accent points that have been polished to give the piece movement and energy. Fruit of Life IS mounted oil a rotating base which makes it easy to view all perspectives of the piece. Fill it with fruit or place it as a centerpiece oil your dining room table. This display of good taste will result In marvelous conversations about Erté art and collecting. Enjoy it!

The Ocean bowl suite is one of Erté's Most impressive achievement In objects of art. Who else but this remarkable genius could have conceived such perfection?

Using bowls as metaphors for earth, Erté has fantasized a myth of the story of creation The god and goddess of the oceans are depicted by Erté as a male (Adam) in Ocean 1, and as a female (Eve) in Ocean II. Just as life emerged from water, these mythical figures emerge with their stylized attendants that provide a repetitive motif for the bowls.

The waves of the ocean are illustrated by the scalloped sides of the bowl. The decorative design oil the outside of both Ocean 1 and 11 present Erté's view of sea vegetation. The seven heads oil Ocean II represent the seven seas of the world.
For Erte there is more to these pieces than his myth of creation. For him the ocean is a great source of energy. As many collectors know, lie lives In Paris during tile spring and fall, ill Barbados in the winter all in Majorca in the summer. As he recently wrote: "The sea has always been a wonderful inspiration for me I can't live without seeing the ocean for a long tilde. Every year, I spend two months In Barbados and two months ill Majorca, and my best ideas are born In these two places."

The Ocean suite, with accompanying Erté candlesticks, makes the most interesting conversation piece during a dinner party. The beauty rarity and quality of these pieces give the owner excellent value and infinite pleasure.

Part II

Flower Among Flowers is a historic first. This is the first Erte howl ever made in crystal. While Erté has designed many crystal objects of art, only a few of them have been made at this dine due to the prohibitive cost of manufacturing fine crystal. 'lo make the first Flower Among Flowers bowl prototype, it cost tile publisher over $25,000!

After discussing the complexity of Erte designs for crystal, I selected one of the three top French cristalleries (founded in 1725), Crystal de Sevres, to do the piece. It is a collaboration of the best with the best.

Erté has always been inspired by women and Mature. Flower (woman) Among Flowers (Nature) combines his loves ill a very special way. She is the quintessential Erté woman - sophisticated and elegant. She has lived life to its fullest and enjoyed it all! She is what every woman aspires to be and what every man admires.

Erté has designed Flower Among Flowers especially for this collection. Its sensuous shape coupled with the softness of the frosted glass suggests the best of the art nouveau period. The stylized flowers, ill contrast, suggest art deco. I» short, this crystal bowl combines the best of both artistic styles.

In evaluating any crystal, please remember to consider light, weight and tine. The magic of crystal lies in how it reflects and refracts light aid how light shines through the piece. The design, the frosting and tile polishing all interact to allow the artist to sculpt with light. Clear crystal, with alternating frosted and polished surfaces, creates tile most magic. Artificial lighting is critical when natural lighting is unavailable. A beautiful black marble base and light source of halogen have been specially made for this piece.

Flowers is a very heavy piece and its weight is important. The heavier the crystal, the more difficult it is to make it flawless. (The rejection rate goes in geometrically as you add volume because of the increased probability that an imperfection will appear.)

Fine crystal bears all interesting relationship to time. Important crystal is timeless because its design is independent of a particular period. Like tile medium itself, Erté's designs are not fashionable rather they are stylish. Fashion changes; style is forever. The acquisition of ogle major piece of art crystal by Erté slakes a greater impact on most people than all other object of art.

The mixing of crystal and other media is very appealing. In the case of h' lowers, Erte leas mixed silver, crystal and marble to a fine art. The silver lid and ring, handmade by a Versailles jeweler, add a clean finishing touch to the piece. The black Erte signature on the lid coupled with the black marble base give strength and accent to the piece that makes it uniquely Erté, or in his
own words, "exquisitely lovely."