134 - SANDOZ Édouard Marcel (1881–1971) for GALLIA

SANDOZ Édouard Marcel (1881–1971) for GALLIA Box set containing 11 silver plated knife holders with animal motifs. (one missing; signs of oxidation; worn box) Approximate length of one knife holder: 9 cm Note: Édouard-Marcel Sandoz (1881–1971), a Swiss sculptor and a leading figure in 20th-century animal art, developed a body of work characterized by stylized forms and a keen observation of the animal world. Beginning in the 1920s, he collaborated with several leading decorative arts houses, notably the Haviland porcelain manufactory in Limoges and the Gallia silverware firm, affiliated with Christofle. For the latter, he designed a series of twelve animal-shaped knife rests in Silver plated metal, produced around 1930, depicting familiar or exotic animals: swans, lions, bears, pelicans, hares, and even greyhounds. These small, functional sculptures perfectly embody the Art Deco spirit, blending geometric simplicity, humor, and elegance. Now sought after by both Sandoz enthusiasts and collectors of Christofle silverware, they bear witness to the dialogue between sculpture and tableware during the interwar period.