“Vedette” bronze, Demetre Chiparus

The sublime sculpture “La Vedette”, a dancer in bronze stands on her toes, throws her arms out while bending backwards. She wears a skirt with jewels that cover her chest. Her hair is styled in the fashion of the 1930s. Gilded bronze with traces of colored enamble on the skirt. The base is in brown alabaster and bears the artist’s signature. Good condition and original patina.

Size: H 55cm – base H 12cm (bronze 43cm)

Demetre Chiparus, circa 1930.

The master’s inspiration for this model was the revue leader Tera Guinob, in “L’Esprit de Paris” at the theatre de la Madeleine.

Model reproduced in “Chiparus, un sculpteur Art Deco”, Alberto Shayo, Editions Abbeville, 1993, Page 32.

Lit: Demetre Chiparus (1886-1947) was born in Dorohoi, Romania. In 1909 he went to Italy where he studied with Raffaello Romanelli. In 1912 he went to Paris to perfect his art at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts under the guidance of Antonin Mercié and Jean Boucher. In 1914 he participated in the Salon where he obtained an honourable medal. After the war, he set up his own studio and exhibited regularly in the salons. Most of his works were produced between 1914 and 1933. In the 1920s, Demetre Chiparus was inspired by archaeological discoveries in Egypt, including the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen, to create sculptures. His work was also inspired by the Russian Ballets, the theatre and Parisian music Hall. Chiparus is world famous for his chryselephantine bronze and ivory sculptures of exotic dancers, mounted on onyx or marble bases.