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Lot Essay
Christie's would like to thank François Le Tacon for his assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.
The initial work, Roses of France, is a large standing cup in the shape of a rose with rosebuds applied to the foot. This so-called Simon cup was commissioned by the Société centrale d'horticulture de Nancy in December 1900 or January 1901 to honor Jules Léon Simon, its president, a native of Metz. The shape and decoration are inspired by a rose, Rosa gallica, the rose of the Gauls or rose of France, in homage to the recipient's passion for roses; this cup is also a tribute to the patriotism of Léon Simon who preferred to take refuge in France rather than live in a territory annexed by Germany. While there are only two known versions of this large cup, one in the Musée de l'École de Nancy, the other in the Kitazawa Museum in Japan, several smaller versions of various shapes were produced with applications of roses.
The version in this sale is a quadrangular crystal vase of predominantly pink, marbled with blue. Slightly open, multi-layered rosebuds, identical to those on the base of the Simon cup, are applied to the vase and delicately wheel chased. The rosebuds are accompanied by rose leaves in wheel engraved marqueterie.
– François Le Tacon, leading expert for the work of Émile Gallé and author, among others, of Émile Gallé L'amour de l'Art, les écrits artistiques du Maître de l'Art Nouveau, Éditions Place Stanislas, 2010 and Émile Gallé, ou Le mariage de l'art et de la science, Éditions Messène, Paris, 1995
The initial work, Roses of France, is a large standing cup in the shape of a rose with rosebuds applied to the foot. This so-called Simon cup was commissioned by the Société centrale d'horticulture de Nancy in December 1900 or January 1901 to honor Jules Léon Simon, its president, a native of Metz. The shape and decoration are inspired by a rose, Rosa gallica, the rose of the Gauls or rose of France, in homage to the recipient's passion for roses; this cup is also a tribute to the patriotism of Léon Simon who preferred to take refuge in France rather than live in a territory annexed by Germany. While there are only two known versions of this large cup, one in the Musée de l'École de Nancy, the other in the Kitazawa Museum in Japan, several smaller versions of various shapes were produced with applications of roses.
The version in this sale is a quadrangular crystal vase of predominantly pink, marbled with blue. Slightly open, multi-layered rosebuds, identical to those on the base of the Simon cup, are applied to the vase and delicately wheel chased. The rosebuds are accompanied by rose leaves in wheel engraved marqueterie.
– François Le Tacon, leading expert for the work of Émile Gallé and author, among others, of Émile Gallé L'amour de l'Art, les écrits artistiques du Maître de l'Art Nouveau, Éditions Place Stanislas, 2010 and Émile Gallé, ou Le mariage de l'art et de la science, Éditions Messène, Paris, 1995