Charles-Émile Jonchery

CHARLES-ÉMILE JONCHERY (1873-1937).
Bonbonniere,s. XX.
Silver-plated pewter.
Signed on the back.
Bibliography: Philippe DAHHAN, Étains 1900, 200 Sculpteurs de la Belle Époque, Les Éditions de l'Amateur, Paris, 2000, reproduced p. 204, fig. 587.
Weight: 1.230 g.
Measurements: 15 x 13 x 15 cm.

Elegant Art Nouveau silver-plated pewter bonbonniere, conceived as an authentic round sculpture, where the utilitarian function is subordinated to a complex plastic conception. The piece is articulated around a young nude female figure, with stylized anatomy and enveloping attitude, whose long hair and veils are fluidly transformed into plant motifs, merging human body and nature in a fully symbolist language.
The organic treatment of the surfaces, the continuity of the curved lines and the sensual modeling of the nude respond to the aesthetic principles of French Art Nouveau of the transition between centuries. The free-standing lid is topped with a delicate floral knob in the form of a daisy, a recurring botanical element in Jonchery's decorative work, which reinforces the poetic and naturalistic character of the whole.

Signed on the back, this work is part of the most successful production of Charles-Émile Jonchery, a sculptor trained in the environment of Auguste Rodin, whose influence can be perceived in the attention to the human body and in the expressiveness of the modeling. Jonchery was a leading figure in the Paris Salons during the first quarter of the 20th century and enjoyed notable recognition for both his sculpture and his metal art objects.