Louis Maurel (1880-1941) Art Nouveau vase 'The three graces'

About this piece

Beautiful bronze vase, it's made in the style of the Symbolism. The vase is formed as the flower Arum, which stands for purity and spirituality. The vase has 3 feet, the three graces are depicted on the corners, between the leaves. Euphrosyne, which stands for joy and charm, Aglaia, for beauty and creativity and Thalia, which symbolizes blossoming happiness and fertility. Within Symbolism, imagination, fantasy and intuition were important values.

The bronze has a dark patina. The vase is signed with 'Maurel'.

Biography:
Several works, dated from the Art Nouveau period, are known of the French artist and designer Louis-Eugène Maurel (Paris, 1880-1941). Most of them are designed in the same style as this vase. Often these vases were made in small editions, sometimes also in tin or metal. Krefelder Metallwaren-fabrik Bitters & Gobbels from Germany edited several designs.

In 1900 his vase 'Cauchemar' (édition Eugène Blot) was showed at the World Exhibition in Paris. Maurel was also a member of the Société des Artistes Français and exhibited at the Salon.

Literatuur:
Alastair Duncan: 'The Paris Salons, 1895-1914', Volume V, Objets d'Art & Metalware, p.408. Antique Collectors Club Limited, Suffolk, 1999.

Philippe Dahhan:“Etains 1900, 200 Sculpteurs de la Belle Epoque", Les éditions de l'Amateur“, 2001.

Condition

At the bottom two holes are made by a previous owner, probably to be fixed at a pedestal. The vase is designed without a pedestal.