Now: something for the father who appreciates fine and good-looking . . . books. A pair of French terracotta bookends sculpted by Joe Descamps and produced in ceramic by Louis Lourioux. Joe Descamps (1869-1950), sometimes spelled Descomps, was a master sculptor who specialized in female nudes. His subjects were often placed in pastoral or floral settings. He worked in both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods (and, indeed, this pair of bookends seems to be "transitional"—that is, reflecting aspects of both aesthetic schools). Descamps also designed jewelry and metal sculpture.
Ceramicist Camille Louis Lourioux (1874-1930) was born into a family of potters. In his Twenties, he managed a ceramics workshop with his father. But he soon set-out on his own and established his own studio. Lourioux was known for his inventiveness and he dedicated a part of his workshop to a laboratory to pursue the use of new techniques and materials. Lourioux arranged collaborations with other artists to create limited editions of finely-crafted decorative objets.
The pair of terracotta bookends, shown here, were made in the Teens or Twenties. They were sculpted by Joe Descamps and produced in ceramic by Louis Lourioux. The bookends bear both artists' signatures. A satyress is shown reclining against a fruited tree—the combination of female form and pastoral setting which Descamps loved. Notice her pointed ears and cloven hooves. The style is a little Art Nouveau, a little Art Deco. Descamps worked in both periods, in both styles, and this work seems to express both aesthetics. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
More Handsome Gifts for Father's Day tomorrow and in the days to come.
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