GUSTAV GURSCHNER | FIGURAL TABLE LAMP

Michael Pruskin Gallery, London

Acquired from the above by the present owner, circa 1978

Alastair Duncan, Art Nouveau and Art Deco Lighting, London, 1978, cover and pl. xxi

Wolf Uecker, Art Nouveau and Art Deco Lamps and Candlesticks, New York, 1986, p. 10

Paradis Perdus: L’Europe Symboliste, exh. cat., Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, Montreal, 1995, p. 398 (for the present lot illustrated)

Paradis Perdus: L’Europe Symboliste, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, Montreal, June 8-October 15, 1995

Lloyd and I have been collectors of myriad things, but our most astounding and long lasting accessions have been in the field of Art Nouveau—that short period between 1890 and 1910 when there was a movement to reject the use of machine made objects and to return to the “hand of man” in the decorative arts. Naturalistic subjects in soft colors and of whiplash designs attracted us at the time and continue to excite us today. We enjoy the quality of hand-carved furniture in rare woods which add to the feeling of warmth and artistic beauty. Each object is a unique sculpture in bronze, glass, ceramic and porcelain.

This is the collection which changed our lives. It took us to many corners of the world and brought us into a life of art acquisition. It has been our great privilege to have owned many of the most beautiful, rare and astounding examples of furniture by Gallé, Majorelle, Gaillard, Gruber and Guimard. Glass and lamps by Tiffany, Gallé, Lalique and Daum. Besides selling these treasures of the period in Macklowe Gallery, we also have had the great pleasure of living with them. 

Barbara Macklowe