Beschreibung:

modelled as young dancer with a cap, drapery falling from her outstretched arms, on a stepped pedestal base signed ’Chiparus’ Signed ’A. Leonard’ 42 cm high *Collectors first became interested in Chiparus’ masterpieces in the 1970s, becoming particularly popular in the 1990-2000s. Demetre Haralamb Chiparus (16 September 1886, Dorohoi, Romania - 22 January 1947, Paris, France) was born in Romania but spent his working life in Paris. In 1909 he moved to Italy to pursue his interest in sculpture and in 1912 he traveled to Paris to attend the Ecole des Beaux Arts. In the early 1920’s Chiparus’ mature style took shape. His work was influenced by the French interest in Egypt, after Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb was excavated which was very popular at the time. He was also inspired by dancers from the Russian Ballet, French theatre, and early motion pictures. Some of his creations were copied directly from real life– for example, the faces of “Persian Dance” figures reveal the portrait traits of Vaclav Nijinsji and Ida Rubinshtein, and the dress in “Starfish” is a replica of the sketch for Goldfish’s dress from the ballet “Underwater Kingdom” by Lev Annensky. Quite often Chiparus used photos of Russian and French dancers, and models from fashion magazines of his time.The sculptures of Chiparus are a reflection of his time. His works embody the spirit of “folle” in the 1920-1930s and the pinnacle of great art in the Art Deco period