Vide poche - Art Nouveau Style – Leaf-shaped valet tray with sculpture “Nymph & Sea Dragon,” 1900s - Italy
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An Art Nouveau brass (ottone) leaf-shaped vide-poche, dating to 1900–1910, with a 8×20×13 cm profile, made in Italy and in good used condition with signs of age.
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Description from the seller
A masterpiece of Art Nouveau elegance for your collection!
Immerse yourself in the magic and refinement of the Art Nouveau period with this extraordinary sculpted bronze money box (vide-poche) finely worked.
The piece perfectly embodies the floral and fantastical aesthetics of the Jugendstil movement: a majestic leaf molded with fluid, organic lines forms the base for a delicate allegorical female figure, a nymph playing a string instrument. The handle curves gracefully, transforming into the figure of a fantastic sea dragon, creating a visually striking composition.
Owning an Art Nouveau object of this caliber on your desk or in your entryway means not merely possessing a piece of furniture, but preserving a fragment of European art history. The sinuous shapes, naturalistic details, and the warm golden patina of the era lend an irresistible magnetism that modern pieces rarely match. It is the perfect complement that will immediately capture the gaze and admiration of every guest.
Produced at the height of the Art Nouveau era in the 1900s, a period famous for its World Expos (such as Paris 1900) and for breaking away from traditional academic art in favor of the forms of nature and myth.
The excellence of French artistic craftsmanship in metalworking finds its peak expression in the figure of the Bronzier d'Art. A centuries-old tradition, refined between the 18th and 19th centuries in renowned Parisian foundries, which combines bronze and brass (laiton) casting with meticulous hand finishing.
It features traces of the surface finish applied by hand to confer the distinctive golden shine.
Although it does not show a visible signature in the image, the design strongly evokes the stylistic currents of famous sculptors of the period, such as Louis-Auguste Moreau or Emmanuel Villanis, celebrated for sensual and mythical depictions blended with decorative elements for everyday use.
Dimensions: 8x20x13 cm
Good condition, shows signs of use and age clearly visible in the photo gallery.
Seller's Story
Welcome to our Catawiki store. Our journey in online sales began back in 2004, driven by a clear vision: creating online auctions dedicated to high-value objects.
Today, more than twenty years later, we carry forward that exact same vision. We are proud to have remained a small, family-run business, yet operating with the solidity and scale of major industry professionals: each year, we welcome more than 100 new clients, purchase over 150 lots, and select between 3,000 and 5,000 unique items to offer you.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from the initial find to the final delivery to your doorstep:
• A Purchase with Social Value: Buying from us means securing a great deal while actively supporting the future of young Italian students. We collaborate closely with 3 graphic design and advertising schools in Milan, Bergamo, and Lecco.
We invest our time and expertise to teach these students the secrets of online sales, professional photography, and marketing. By choosing us, you are tangibly contributing to their education and career paths.
• Field Research and Discovery: For years, we have been personally scouting the most remote locations across Lombardy to find unique pieces, rarities, oddities, and mid-century modern design.
• We Invest Our Own Capital: We do not sell on consignment. We invest our own capital upfront to purchase and restore every single item, taking on all the risks ourselves.
• Direct Dealings with No Intermediaries: We manage every single price personally.
This allows us to eliminate third-party costs and ensure you get the best possible profit margin as a buyer or collector.
• Meticulous Restoration and Quality Control: We get our hands dirty. Every item is carefully restored and verified with an obsessive eye for detail before going up for auction.
• Secure and Eco-Friendly Shipping: To prevent inflated shipping costs and ensure indestructible packaging, my wife and I head out almost every evening, often at unusual hours, to collect heavy-duty industrial cardboard from businesses in our neighborhood.
We hand-select only pre-evaluated, ultra-resistant materials to offer you maximum protection at the lowest possible cost.
Choosing our lots means relying on the historic expertise of a family that has lived this passion since 2004, while investing in the next generation. Our schools and students thank you deeply for your trust.
Happy bidding!
Translated by Google TranslateA masterpiece of Art Nouveau elegance for your collection!
Immerse yourself in the magic and refinement of the Art Nouveau period with this extraordinary sculpted bronze money box (vide-poche) finely worked.
The piece perfectly embodies the floral and fantastical aesthetics of the Jugendstil movement: a majestic leaf molded with fluid, organic lines forms the base for a delicate allegorical female figure, a nymph playing a string instrument. The handle curves gracefully, transforming into the figure of a fantastic sea dragon, creating a visually striking composition.
Owning an Art Nouveau object of this caliber on your desk or in your entryway means not merely possessing a piece of furniture, but preserving a fragment of European art history. The sinuous shapes, naturalistic details, and the warm golden patina of the era lend an irresistible magnetism that modern pieces rarely match. It is the perfect complement that will immediately capture the gaze and admiration of every guest.
Produced at the height of the Art Nouveau era in the 1900s, a period famous for its World Expos (such as Paris 1900) and for breaking away from traditional academic art in favor of the forms of nature and myth.
The excellence of French artistic craftsmanship in metalworking finds its peak expression in the figure of the Bronzier d'Art. A centuries-old tradition, refined between the 18th and 19th centuries in renowned Parisian foundries, which combines bronze and brass (laiton) casting with meticulous hand finishing.
It features traces of the surface finish applied by hand to confer the distinctive golden shine.
Although it does not show a visible signature in the image, the design strongly evokes the stylistic currents of famous sculptors of the period, such as Louis-Auguste Moreau or Emmanuel Villanis, celebrated for sensual and mythical depictions blended with decorative elements for everyday use.
Dimensions: 8x20x13 cm
Good condition, shows signs of use and age clearly visible in the photo gallery.
Seller's Story
Welcome to our Catawiki store. Our journey in online sales began back in 2004, driven by a clear vision: creating online auctions dedicated to high-value objects.
Today, more than twenty years later, we carry forward that exact same vision. We are proud to have remained a small, family-run business, yet operating with the solidity and scale of major industry professionals: each year, we welcome more than 100 new clients, purchase over 150 lots, and select between 3,000 and 5,000 unique items to offer you.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from the initial find to the final delivery to your doorstep:
• A Purchase with Social Value: Buying from us means securing a great deal while actively supporting the future of young Italian students. We collaborate closely with 3 graphic design and advertising schools in Milan, Bergamo, and Lecco.
We invest our time and expertise to teach these students the secrets of online sales, professional photography, and marketing. By choosing us, you are tangibly contributing to their education and career paths.
• Field Research and Discovery: For years, we have been personally scouting the most remote locations across Lombardy to find unique pieces, rarities, oddities, and mid-century modern design.
• We Invest Our Own Capital: We do not sell on consignment. We invest our own capital upfront to purchase and restore every single item, taking on all the risks ourselves.
• Direct Dealings with No Intermediaries: We manage every single price personally.
This allows us to eliminate third-party costs and ensure you get the best possible profit margin as a buyer or collector.
• Meticulous Restoration and Quality Control: We get our hands dirty. Every item is carefully restored and verified with an obsessive eye for detail before going up for auction.
• Secure and Eco-Friendly Shipping: To prevent inflated shipping costs and ensure indestructible packaging, my wife and I head out almost every evening, often at unusual hours, to collect heavy-duty industrial cardboard from businesses in our neighborhood.
We hand-select only pre-evaluated, ultra-resistant materials to offer you maximum protection at the lowest possible cost.
Choosing our lots means relying on the historic expertise of a family that has lived this passion since 2004, while investing in the next generation. Our schools and students thank you deeply for your trust.
Happy bidding!
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Era
1900-2000
Model
Art Nouveau Style – Leaf-shaped valet tray with sculpture “Nymph & Sea Dragon,” 1900s
Material
Brass
Country of origin
Italy
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Height
8 cm
Width
20 cm
Depth
13 cm
Estimated period
1900-1910
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