Gabriel Argy-Rousseau "Les Parfums" Pâte de verre Glass Vase
Regular price
$22,500
Argy-Rousseau's exquisite Les Parfums ("Perfume") is a stunning "pillow vase" with a flared mouth that skillfully blends historical and artistic influences. The vase features two cartouches depicting kneeling figures: one rests her hands on the ground beside a nearby perfume jar, while the other raises her left arm above her head, holding a perfume jar aloft. These jars draw inspiration from marble vessels unearthed in the Cyclades between 1896 and 1899. The streamlined and stylized forms of Cycladic marble figures and vases, emphasizing symmetry and abstraction, significantly influenced Art Deco sculptors.
The vase serves as a tribute to Greece's rich legacy of perfume production. By the Classical period, Greek perfumery had evolved into a sophisticated art, with artisans mastering techniques to extract essential oils from plants and flowers such as roses, lilies, and violets. Perfumes were integral to daily life, used for personal grooming, religious rituals, and festivals, symbolizing both wealth and refinement.
Item #: YG-21701
Artist: Gabriel Argy-Rousseau
Country: France
Circa: 1932
Dimensions: 4.875" height, 3.5" width, 2.75" depth.
Materials: Pâte de verre, translucent glass
Signed: signed in the mold G. Argy Rousseau and France
Literature: cJ. Bloch-Dermont, Les Pâtes de Verre G. Argy-Rousseau Catalogue Raisonné, Paris, 1990, p. 222, no. 32.02 for another vase of this model.
Item #: YG-21701
Artist: Gabriel Argy-Rousseau
Country: France
Circa: 1932
Dimensions: 4.875" height, 3.5" width, 2.75" depth.
Materials: Pâte de verre, translucent glass
Signed: signed in the mold G. Argy Rousseau and France
Literature: cJ. Bloch-Dermont, Les Pâtes de Verre G. Argy-Rousseau Catalogue Raisonné, Paris, 1990, p. 222, no. 32.02 for another vase of this model.
Flanking the figures is a towering geometric cityscape dominated by vertical domed spires. This design element reflects the influence of Neo-Gothic Art Deco skyscrapers of the 1930s, which often incorporated details inspired by medieval Gothic architecture—particularly the cupolas of cathedral bell towers. This motif of domed spires was later echoed in MGM artist Scott Gibson’s iconic matte painting of the Emerald City in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Flanking the figures is a towering geometric cityscape dominated by vertical domed spires. This design element reflects the influence of Neo-Gothic Art Deco skyscrapers of the 1930s, which often incorporated details inspired by medieval Gothic architecture—particularly the cupolas of cathedral bell towers. This motif of domed spires was later echoed in MGM artist Scott Gibson’s iconic matte painting of the Emerald City in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
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