Art Nouveau Demoiselle à la Balancelle Mirror Silvered Bronze from Erté, Paris, 1907

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A rare and highly unusual art nouveau vanity or dressing-table mirror, known as “demoiselle à la balancelle” (maiden on a … Read more A rare and highly unusual art nouveau vanity or dressing-table mirror, known as “demoiselle à la balancelle” (maiden on a swing), attributed to the celebrated artist erté (romain de tirtoff) and bearing the distinctive inscription “erte paris 1907” within a triangular cartouche to the reverse. This extraordinary piece combines a functional swivelling dressing mirror with an exceptionally charming three-dimensional young woman seated on a fully suspended swing. The figure actually moves and swings freely from its four original-looking silvered chains, creating a wonderfully animated and playful effect. The mirror is constructed in silvered bronze, with the elegant figure positioned in front of the mirror and suspended from the upper structure. The mirror itself swivels and incorporates a rear screw stay, while four clips help secure the glass. The overall design is unmistakably of the art nouveau period, with its flowing lines, elegant female figure and emphasis on movement and decorative form. “demoiselle à la balancelle” – paris 1907 the reverse bears the highly distinctive triangular cartouche: erte paris 1907 the work is associated with erté's earliest sculptural experiments. According to the supplied research, “demoiselle à la balancelle” was created in paris in 1907, when erté was only around 15 years old. The design is considerably more naïve and experimental than erté's later, highly refined sculptural work, making it particularly interesting from a historical perspective. It is said that erté regarded this early work as relatively minor, and it was consequently omitted from his official biography, despite the surviving 1907 cartouche. The combination of its early date, unusual subject, moving mechanism and erté marking makes this a particularly intriguing object. A remarkable moving sculpture the most captivating feature is undoubtedly the swinging maiden herself. Suspended from four chains, the young woman is seated on the swing and can actually move backwards and forwards. This gives the piece a delightful sense of animation that is rarely encountered in antique dressing-table mirrors. The mirror swivels to allow adjustment, making the piece both a functional vanity accessory and an unusually sophisticated decorative object. Measurements overall: 18 in. High × 14 in. Wide × 6 in. Deep mirror: approximately 9¾ in. × 8¼ in. Including frame figure: approximately 7 in. × 3½ in. Condition excellent antique condition, with only very minor loss to the silvering commensurate with age. The mirror glass remains in very good condition and does not appear to have been replaced. The swing mechanism operates, and the figure moves freely. Please examine all photographs carefully, including the reverse cartouche and moving mechanism, as they form an important part of the . About erté erté (romain de tirtoff, 1892–1990) was a russian-born artist, illustrator, designer and sculptor who became one of the defining figures of 20th-century decorative art. Born in st petersburg into an aristocratic family, erté moved to paris as a young man and adopted the name erté, derived from the french pronunciation of his initials, r.t. His extraordinary career encompassed fashion, illustration, theatre, costume design, sculpture and graphic art. His celebrated work for harper's bazaar helped establish the highly recognisable visual language that became associated with art deco. Erté designed costumes for celebrated performers, worked in theatre and film, and became internationally recognised for his elegant, elongated figures and sophisticated decorative compositions. His work is represented in major museum collections including the metropolitan museum of art, victoria and albert museum and smithsonian institution. An exceptional collector's piece with its 1907 paris inscription, silvered-bronze construction, swivelling mirror and genuinely moving art nouveau figure, this is a highly unusual and memorable decorative object. It would make a spectacular addition to a collection of erté, art nouveau, early 20th-century sculpture, vanity mirrors or french decorative arts — and is certain to attract attention wherever displayed. See less