1 - Henri BELLERY-DESFONTAINES (1867–1909)

Henri BELLERY-DESFONTAINES (1867–1909) One-of-a-kind piece Molded mahogany throne armchair with a high, straight backrest that is curved at the top, featuring carved leather motifs on the upper crossbar It features solid armrests with curved, molded cuffs and rests on a straight base that is hollowed out at the bottom The backrest and seat are upholstered in brown studded leather, and the sides feature carved panels decorated with poppy and fern motifs Signed, dated, and located: “H Bellery-Desfontaines 1898 Paris” H: 158.5 cm / W: 66 cm / D: 60 cm Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he assisted the painter and decorator Pierre-Victor Galland. Henri Bellery-Desfontaines (1867–1909) belonged to a generation of artists who, at the end of the 19th century, sought to unite the fine arts and the decorative arts under a single ideal of “total art.” As a painter and illustrator, he simultaneously developed a unique decorative language, drawing on Symbolist and Neo-Gothic influences, in which plant motifs play a central role. Created in 1898, this mahogany armchair stands as a testament to his early explorations in the field of furniture design. Its architectural and monumental silhouette is brought to life by the armrests, which are adorned with finely carved poppies, cornflowers, and ferns. The hue of the mahogany and the understated brown studded leather highlight this naturalistic ornamentation, characteristic of the artist’s aesthetic. Given its early date and unique character, this piece offers a rare testament to Bellery-Desfontaines’ ambition to transform furniture into a work of art in its own right, at the dawn of Art Nouveau.