Gabriel Argy-Rousseau Pâte-de-verre “Farniente” Vase
Regular price
$19,500
Argy Rousseau's exquisite Farniente vase, a "pillow vase" with a flared mouth, showcases a refined blend of historical and artistic influences. The vase features a checkered lozenge pattern in "Payne's Grey", a 19th century dark blue-grey color used to depict everything from stormy skies to modern steel buildings. The checkered motif is closely tied to the harlequin costume from commedia dell'arte, a recurring reference for French artists from the 18th century through the Art Deco period. Each face of the vase is decorated with rectangular vignettes on either side. The figures within each vignette are inspired by Greco-Roman cameos. Their poses embody the concept of farniente—an Italian term meaning "idleness" or the pleasure of doing nothing. One vignette portrays a reclining nude figure, modernized with a chic bob hairstyle, evoking a lineage of poses that trace back to Rubens and Titian. The other vignette depicts a seated woman, her head bowed, arms resting on her knees, and legs bent in a relaxed posture. Together, these elements celebrate the art of leisure with a sophisticated nod to classical and modern traditions.
Item #: YP-21708
Artist: Gabriel Argy-Rousseau
Country: France
Circa: 1932
Dimensions: 6" height.
Materials: Pâte-de-verre Glass
Signed: “G. Argy-Rousseau”
Exhibition History: A similar vase is located in the collection of the Modern Art Museum in Paris.
Literature: Pictured in: Les Pâtes de Verre, Catalogue Raisonne, G.Argy-Rousseau, by Janine Bloch-Dermant, page 94.
Item #: YP-21708
Artist: Gabriel Argy-Rousseau
Country: France
Circa: 1932
Dimensions: 6" height.
Materials: Pâte-de-verre Glass
Signed: “G. Argy-Rousseau”
Exhibition History: A similar vase is located in the collection of the Modern Art Museum in Paris.
Literature: Pictured in: Les Pâtes de Verre, Catalogue Raisonne, G.Argy-Rousseau, by Janine Bloch-Dermant, page 94.
Actually born Gabriel Rousseau, the famed maker changed his moniker to include the first four letters of his wife's last name upon their marriage, and signed all of his pieces as "Argy-Rousseau." Gabriel Argy-Rousseau's wife was a woman of Greek heritage, whose worldliness greatly influenced and broadened the artist's practice, particularly in his inclusion of patterning that resemble Greek friezes, as we can see here.
Actually born Gabriel Rousseau, the famed maker changed his moniker to include the first four letters of his wife's last name upon their marriage, and signed all of his pieces as "Argy-Rousseau." Gabriel Argy-Rousseau's wife was a woman of Greek heritage, whose worldliness greatly influenced and broadened the artist's practice, particularly in his inclusion of patterning that resemble Greek friezes, as we can see here.
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