Georges van der Straeten

GEORGES VAN DER STRAETEN (Ghent, 1856–1941).
Inkwell converted into a lamp.
Gilded bronze.
In working condition.
Signed and stamped with the foundry’s mark.
Measurements: 28 x 33 x 20 cm.
An original piece that is both ornamental and functional, conceived as a gilded bronze sculptural composition depicting a hooded female figure draped in garments with carefully modeled folds. The richness of the surface treatment, the delicacy of the details, and the play of light on the gilded finish highlight the interest in the female figure and the decorative refinement characteristic of Georges van der Straeten’s work. The structure includes a small compartment at the base, associated with its original function as an inkwell, later adapted to serve as a lamp.
Georges van der Straeten was a Belgian sculptor closely associated with the Art Nouveau movement and the Belle Époque period. In 1883, he moved to Paris, where he established his reputation by exhibiting regularly at the prestigious Paris Salon between 1885 and 1912. His technical virtuosity earned him a silver medal at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair and the title of Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1903. His work is internationally recognized for its depictions of elegant, aristocratic, or high-society Parisian women, rendered with a high level of detail in their hairstyles and clothing.