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Dramatic illumination sets the mood for elegant dining in the manner of Erté.
Canadian-born Bruce Thompsett is one of the leading interior architects in North America. His fame is based in part on his dramatic use of lighting. "If you have nothing else in a room," he says, "start with a candle."
May I add that if you only have two things in a room, the second should be a candlestick or candelabra. Erte has designed over 60 candle holders for home, theatrical settings and films which were never produced. In 96 years lie has offered only three single candlesticks, one double candlestick and one candelabra (menorah) for collectors, galleries arid museums.
The Erte candlesticks presented here have been selected with two considerations in mind. First, they should contribute to ones elegant lifestyle. Nothing epitomizes elegant living better than a beautifully set table composed of fine china, silverware and an artistic centerpiece, flanked by candlesticks. Your acquired culture and good taste are instantly noticeable from the way you set your table for a dinner part. I lave you ever noticed the "flair" sonic people have for "getting everything right?" Pay particular attention to their use of beautiful candlesticks as a part of elegant dining.
Second, Erté appreciates a "candlelit dinner" for its romantic possibilities. Think about the last time you shared a candlelit dinner with someone you love. A gift of an Erté candlestick ensures that these moments will always be special. You are not giving someone a candlestick, you are sharing your love with someone who will never forget your generosity and sensitivity
The Maidens candlestick, cast in bronze, shows four maidens in bas relief around the column holding up the light. In this instance, light symbolizes a new beginning. The candle lights the way to the future.
This design was completed over 50 years ago; its perfect proportions (note the height and how the bull) swells at the right place in just the right amount) reflect Erté's superior design eye. The selection of the Maidens patina (mottled green) aid its selective polishing was done so it would be the perfect companion piece for the Ocean I and II bowls. Imagine ale Ocean bowl as a centerpiece of your dining room table. Further, imagine a Maidens candlestick on cither side of the bowl, creating a magnificent statement. Not even European royalty or wealthy American families can find something more beautiful than a table ensemble designed by Erte. It's thrilling to know that this is the best of tile best when it is placed on your dining room table.
The Vestal candlestick was selected for the cover of this book to illustrate how a beautifully-designed candlestick can bring elegance to a home. Its design harmony is immediately obvious, its sophistication an enhancement to one's lifestyle. The pleasure to be derived from this particular piece far exceeds the small price.
Erté is a deeply spiritual man. His art is permeated with references to man's higher self, communing with nature and reaching for the heavens. The Angel candlestick, designed in 1985 from a 1928 gouache, depicts mail's spiritual self, which transcends all religions. As surely as we live today, we will live forever through our spiritual selves. Lighting the Angel candlestick is a daily reminder of our eternal lives.
For a centerpiece ensemble, a pair of "Angels" are perfect companions to the Fruit of Life bowl. Not only do both pieces have spiritual overtones, but they also represent design harmony together. For example, note the sensuous curves of the bowl and the curves of the angels' wings. Also the polished surfaces of the bowl and the polished finish on the candlestick enhance their complementary quality.
It is sometimes easy to forget the depth and range of Erté artistic creations because he is best known as a fashion artist and "the father of art deco" (a designation he does not like). His work for theatre, opera, dance and even Harper's Bazaar shows a range much broader than most people know: His "exotic
Conceived in December 1926, Fortune depicts a seated oriental figure holding its arms aloft as a cornucopia overflows with treasures of the heart (love) and the world (symbolized by pearls). The small flame at the top of the headdress symbolizes health. Surely, this person has good fortune. This conceptualization was modified in 1987 for a double candlestick to serve as a dining room table centerpiece. Most of us who are able to consider acquiring an Erté object of art enjoy good fortune. Having this piece in our home is not a celebration of this fact but a reminder for each of us to thank our Creator for this good fortune.
The exotic-oriental features of this piece have been captured in the face and detailed beadwork. The sunburst pattern is a recurring leitmotif in Erté's work that is classified as art deco. Cast exactly like his sculpture, using the lost wax casting process, Fortune is an investment in living and a true thanksgiving for all of us.
