Zadounaisky mirror and console

MICHAEL ZADOUNANAISKY, ca. 1930
Art Deco mirror and console.
Wrought iron and Portoro marble partially gilded.
Measurements: 133 x 82 cm (mirror); 89,5 x 100 x 29 cm (console)

Important set composed of mirror and console made around 1930 by Michel Zadounaisky, one of the great representatives of French artistic iron in the Art Deco period.

The piece is a paradigmatic example of the decorative iron of the interwar period, where the artisanal tradition of wrought iron is integrated with a fully modern aesthetic. The mirror, of axial composition, is articulated around a powerful triangular motif that introduces a geometric tension characteristic of the Déco language. The frame combines hammered surfaces, vertical rhythms and geometric reliefs with ornamental applications of almost mechanical inspiration, creating a play of textures and planes that visually enriches the whole.

The console, conceived as an architectural extension of the mirror, develops a stylized iron structure with golden applications that provide contrast and sophistication. The Portoro marble - deep-grained and dark-toned - reinforces the nobility of the whole, underlining the dialogue between mineral matter and worked metal. The balance between geometric rigor and symbolic decoration places the work in the most sculptural aspect of French Art Deco.

Zadounaïsky stood out for his ability to transform a traditionally utilitarian material into a modern decorative language, fully aligned with the avant-garde of his time. At the 13th Salon des Tuileries in 1935, his works attracted the attention of Ferdinand-Antoine, Viscount de Lacroix-Laval. The nobleman's enthusiasm for the artist's work led him to commission Zadounaïsky to create several lighting pieces for his chateau at Noailles, in south-central France.