Claire Colinet

An exquisite early 20th Century French Art Deco gilt bronze figure of a young female dancer seated upon a shawl that she is lifting either side of her. The surface decorated with enamel painted ancient Egyptian design, exhibiting excellent colour and detail. Raised on a marble base and signed Cl.J.R.Colinet ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Height: 42 cm Width: 56 cm Depth: 21 cm Condition: Excellent Original Condition Circa: 1925 Materials: Bronze & Marble Book Ref: Art Deco & Other Figures by Bryan Catley Page: 117 SKU: 9176 ABOUT Colinet Claire Jeanne Roberte Colinet (1880–1950) was French sculptor of Belgian birth who worked during the early-to-mid 20th century. The subject matter of her best known work was primarily Arab female dancers. The majority of her career output in sculpture can be classified as being of the Art Deco style. Colinet was a frequent exhibitor at the Salon des Artistes Francais and Salon des Independents art exhibitions in Paris. Her sculptures, most of which depicted beautifully figured, energized, and dramatic female forms, were exhibited posthumously at the Paris Salon for nearly 30 years. Early Life Colinet was born in Brussels, Belgium, in 1880. Little is known about her life other than the artwork she produced during a successful career that spanned more than 40 years. As a woman, she was in the minority in her chosen field of sculpture during the era in which she worked and lived. Career At an undetermined date – probably around 1910 – Colinet emigrated to Paris, France, where she studied sculpture under the watchful eye of Jef Lambeaux and exhibited for the first time at the Salon des Artistes Francais in 1913 and became a permanent member of the organization in 1929. From 1937 to 1940, she exhibited at the Salon des Independents in Paris and joined the Union of Women Painters and Sculptors. Colinet's work is primarily done in the Art Deco style, and her models included odalisques, exotic dancers, jugglers and artists of cabaret. A number of her female dancer pieces were influenced by a revival of the Orientalism movement which had been popular in Europe from about 1860 to 1880. Her preferred casting material was bronze; however, a number of her most distinguished sculptures are chryselephantine, being a combination of both bronze and ivory. Colinet's sculpture has become highly desirable to collectors and, increasingly, is selling for exorbitant sums. At a Christie's sale on 4 May 2007, her Ankara Dancer...

Charming early 20th Century French Art Deco gilt and enamel bronze figure of a dancer in balanced pose holding juggling balls, with very fine gilt and enamel colour and excellent det...