Maurice Dufrêne (1876–1955), French Art Deco "Balancing Elephant" Sculpture

Details

Description

Maurice Dufrêne (French, 1876–1955) was a seminal figure of the French Art Deco movement, widely celebrated for his multidisciplinary contributions … Read more Maurice Dufrêne (French, 1876–1955) was a seminal figure of the French Art Deco movement, widely celebrated for his multidisciplinary contributions to design—spanning furniture, decorative arts, and sculpture. A co-founder of the Société des Artistes Décorateurs and director of the Atelier Français at La Maîtrise (Galeries Lafayette’s design studio), Dufrêne advocated for refined craftsmanship and modern luxury grounded in traditional techniques. His works were prominently featured in the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, the exhibition that gave the Art Deco movement its name.

This rare ceramic sculpture by Dufrêne depicts a stylized elephant balancing atop a circus ball, a motif at once whimsical and architecturally grounded, suggestive of the period’s fascination with exoticism and geometric form. The elephant’s rotund, abstracted body is executed in a finely textured terra-cotta glaze, while the spherical base is finished in a rich, reflective gold luster with craquelure throughout. Dufrêne’s signature appears incised at the foot of the orb, and the underside bears a faint impressed “Made in France” mark along with a hand-inscribed model or inventory number. The sculptural silhouette is highly reductive yet imbued with expressive poise, demonstrating Dufrêne’s sensitivity to form and balance, hallmarks of his broader decorative oeuvre.

Comparable works by Dufrêne are held in major institutional collections, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Musée d'Orsay, which preserves several examples of his furniture, lighting, and ceramic collaborations. His interdisciplinary approach continues to be recognized for bridging the aesthetic ideals of Art Nouveau with the sleek materiality and modern stylization of Art Deco. This sculpture—likely produced in the 1920s or 1930s—exemplifies the lyrical stylization and craftsmanship that defined Dufrêne’s contribution to modern French design.

Measures:
9.625" h x 8.875" d x 4.375" w (base). See less