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Ader
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Porcelain coffee service with an insect motif
See original version (French)
1
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Porcelain coffee service with an insect motif
See original version (French)
Estimate €300 - €500
Voluntary lot
Description
Porcelain coffee service with an insect motif
circa 1920–1950
painted by Gabriella La Torre, based on the designs of the historic Swiss porcelain manufacturer in Nyon. Signed
Comprising 26 pieces:
- 12 saucers, diam. 12 cm (one chipped)
- 11 cups, diam. 5.8 cm
- 1 coffee pot, H: 23 cm
- 1 sugar bowl, H: 17.5 cm and diam. 9 cm
- 1 milk jug, diam. 5 cm
In 1957, whilst having coffee at Gabriella La Torre’s home in Rome, Jean R. Guerrand, then a director at Hermès, noticed this porcelain service decorated with insects that she had painted and suggested that she transpose this motif onto a silk scarf, giving rise to the famous ‘Les Insectes’ scarf, launched in 1958
Source piece for lots 2 to 10
Provenance:
The artist’s family collection. Assembled under the guidance of Fabrizio La Torre, son of Gabriella La Torre, this collection reflects a desire to recreate a body of work that brings together the artist’s archives and the pieces produced by Hermès.
Gabriella La Torre (Rome, 1894–1976) was a porcelain painter. Over several decades, she developed a personal body of work fuelled in particular by her love of the decorative arts and antique porcelain, the designs of which she studied and collected.
From 1957 onwards, she collaborated with Hermès, for whom she created numerous designs that gave rise to silk scarves, ready-to-wear garments and porcelain objects. Her creative vision gave rise to patterns such as ‘Insects’, ‘Flowers and Braids’, ‘Oranges and Lemons’, ‘Cherries’, ‘Roosters’ and ‘Old China’.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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