Raoul Larche Loie Fuller Lamp, ca. 1900
GUEST:
Well, it's been a bone of contention for 20 years. My husband brought this lamp home for me as a gift, and I was really upset because he paid too much money for it. I really thought I could have found other lamps that I'd like better, so I was upset with him.
APPRAISER:
So how much was too much?
GUEST:
$2,500, which 20 years ago, it's like, "Oh, my goodness." It's kind of grown on me after...
APPRAISER:
After all those years.
GUEST:
Yeah, yeah.
APPRAISER:
Why don't we put it on and we'll see what it looks like lit up? It has this beautiful glow. It's a French lamp. The sculptor is Raoul Larche, who was working in France in the latter part of the 19th century. And it's modeled after Loie Fuller, the dancer.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
She was known as a dancer and choreographer, and also known for her theatrical lighting. And this really fits that bill, with the wonderful warm glow of the light. And she's really known for sort of the billowing, gauzy outfits that she wore, and you can see there's the amazing movement. And you see the fine detail of the drapery as it flows across her body is very well articulated. The lamp is made out of gilt bronze. It has a foundry mark. It's the Siot-Decauville foundry in Paris that did the bronze, the casting for this. These were actually sold at Fuller's studio in France in 1900. And it was offered in a number of different sizes. This is the largest. She epitomized the Art Nouveau movement, and this lamp, I think, really epitomizes that as well. I would say for auction, I would estimate it between $25,000 and $35,000.
GUEST:
Are you kidding me? Oh, my goodness. I had no idea.
APPRAISER:
So you have to thank your husband for having a good eye.
GUEST:
I will, I will. Oh, that's amazing. So how much did you say again?
APPRAISER:
Between $25,000 and $35,000 for auction.
GUEST:
Goodness.
APPRAISER:
Yeah.
Appraisal Details
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