Edgar Brandt

Private American Collection, acquired circa 1950
Thence by descent to the present owner

Joan Kahr, Edgar Brandt:  Art Deco Ironwork, Atglen, PA, 2010, pp. 135 (for snakes andirons with a similar crossbar), 190-191 (for a related wrought-iron snake motif)

Overall good condition. The patina has been worn throughout, revealing the bare wrought-iron. Some of the original patina is visible on the heads of the snakes. The bronze surfaces with some minor surface scratches, abrasions and scattered areas of oxidation consistent with age and use. Both andirons with light surface dirt to the recessed areas of the design and with occasional minor traces of white house paint. One andiron with a concentrated area of rust to the proper right side of the base where the snake and base join, visible in the catalogue illustration. The crossbar is shaped as the tong of a snake at each extremity and does not fit behind the snakes body and is resting on the undulating back support as seen in the catalogue illustration. A very lively and deeply sculptural work by Brandt, which could have been produced for the Exposition coloniale in 1931.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Distinguished by their dynamic composition and remarkable sculptural presence, this rare pair of andirons was likely created by Edgar Brandt in the context of the 1931 Exposition Coloniale in Paris. The exhibition was organized by Maréchal Lyautey, Brandt’s friend from the First World War, to showcase the diverse cultures and resources of France's colonies.  Each andiron displays a figure fending off a swarm of seven snakes, playing to the European curiosity about wild, exotic lands, and making reference to the very origin of humanity with the biblical number seven.


Sotheby's is grateful for the assistance of Joan Kahr in authenticating and cataloguing this lot.