51 - GABRIELLA LA TORRE (1894–1976)

GABRIELLA LA TORRE (1894–1976) Circa 1965 Watercolor sketch “Bouquet of Flowers,” a scarf design sold to Gucci. The artist created several scarf designs on this theme for both Hermès and Gucci. Gucci purchased one of these designs but never produced it and kept it framed for many years as a decorative element in its historic Roman store on Via Condotti. Signed. Wooden frame 58 x 48.5 cm (visible area) (creases, as is) Provenance: Collection of the artist’s family. Assembled under the direction of Fabrizio La Torre, son of Gabriella La Torre, this collection reflects a desire to recreate a body of work that juxtaposes the artist’s archives with pieces produced by Hermès. Gabriella La Torre (Rome, 1894–1976) was a porcelain painter. Over several decades, she developed a distinctive body of work inspired in particular by her love of the decorative arts and antique porcelain, whose designs she studied and collected. Beginning in 1957, she collaborated with Hermès, for which she created numerous designs that gave rise to silk scarves, ready-to-wear pieces, and porcelain objects. Her creative vision gave rise to patterns such as “Insects,” “Flowers and Braids,” “Oranges and Lemons,” “Cherries,” “Roosters,” and “Old China.”