Maurice Guiraud Rivière

MAURICE GUIRAUD RIVIÈRE (Toulouse, 1881- 1947).
"Tiger walking", 1920-1930.
Bronze patinated in green. Black marble base.
Signed on the marble.
The marble has some flaking in the corners of the base.
Measurements: 29,5 x 51 x 30 cm; 5 x 50 x 17 cm (base).

"Tiger Walking" is a testament to Guiraud-Rivière's technical virtuosity and his adherence to the canons of Art Deco, particularly in his fascination with the dynamism and vigor of forms in action. The sculpture captures the latent tension of the feline as it curves its back in a leisurely gait, allowing for an anatomical definition of great precision. This mastery of animal morphology places the author as an inescapable reference in the decorative repertoire of the 20th century, whose legacy stands out for a perfect synthesis between formal excellence and the functionality of the applied arts.

Maurice Guiraud-Rivière was a French painter, draughtsman and sculptor closely linked to the Art Deco universe. Nephew of the sculptor Théodore Rivière, he trained at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under the direction of Antonin Mercié. From 1907 his career began to gain visibility thanks to his participation in the Salon des Artistes Français and the Salon des Humoristes. His sculptural work, particularly representative of Art Deco, took the form of numerous figures and statuettes made in bronze and using the chryséléphantin technique. Many of these pieces were distributed by the prestigious house Etling, famous publisher of sculptures since 1909 and a reference of the movement. Between 1911 and 1923 he also collaborated with the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, for which he designed several porcelain models. His creative versatility extended beyond sculpture: he cultivated graphic humor and developed a pictorial side with an orientalist accent, as evidenced in the watercolors he produced during his trip to Morocco in 1933. After his return, he produced advertising posters for Chemins de fer du Maroc and Air France, integrating modern design resources with an attractive and dynamic visual language.