87 - Raoul François LARCHE (1860–1912)

Raoul François LARCHE (1860–1912) "Loïe Fuller" Gilded chiseled bronze lamp. Signed "Raoul Larche" at the bottom of the dress. Bears the foundry stamp "Siot Decauvile fondeurs, Paris" and the serial number H 744. H: 46 cm (wear on the gilding) Note: Born Mary Louis Fuller in the United States in 1869. In 1891, this brilliant choreographer revolutionized her art by creating the serpentine dance for her piece *Quack Medical Doctor*. She blended animalistic energy with electrifying dynamism; the grace of flowing fabrics combined with innovative lighting effects allowed her to break with tradition and become an icon. Upon her arrival in Paris, she settled at the Folies-Bergères for ten years; great artists, from Toulouse-Lautrec to Carabin, fascinated by her movements, attempted to capture her for eternity. François-Raoul Larche succeeded in 1901 by creating this lamp as a tribute to Loïe Fuller. She is depicted standing, arms raised; her body, outlined by the veil against her skin, transforms her into a dream. By transforming her into a lamp, Raoul Larche made Loïe Fuller the light of this new century—a beacon of the arts and an electric fairy, a new symbol of Art Nouveau. Bibliography: -Pierre Kjellberg: *Les Bronzes du XIXème siècle*, *Dictionnaire des Sculptures*, Les Éditions de l'Amateur, 1989, model reproduced on page 413. -“Radikal Schön—Jugendstil und Symbolismus: Die Sammlung Ferdinand Wolfgang Neess,” Wiesbaden Museum Editions, July 22, 2019, model reproduced on page 188 under number 56. -Judith Miller: “Art Nouveau, l’œil du Chineur,” Grund, London, 2005, model reproduced on page 198. -Alastair Duncan, “Louis C. Tiffany—The Garden Museum Collection,” Antique Collector’s Club, 2004, model reproduced on page 642.