Studio: international art (78.1919)

FRENCH DECORATIVE ART

DECORATIVE WATER-COLOUR
BY RAYMOND BIGOT

enrich the storehouse of French decorative
art. Constantly seeking that which is
highest, never satisfied with himself, renew-
ing himself unceasingly both in his shapes
and in his ornamentations, Lalique is still
one of the most prolific and original pro-
ducers of the day : a real master who, like
Delaherche, does honour to his art. 0
Following his example, but in a different
direction, are many decorators who have
come under the magic spell of art glass-
work and have obtained some truly fasci-
nating effects by the use of enamels for
ornamentation ; I will name only M. Jean
Luce and Mile. Madeleine Zillhardt—the
latter being also the maker of many
pieces of faience, porcelain, and sheet-iron
decorated with the most charming taste.

And our ironworkers are no whit inferior
to our glassmakers and our potters. In the
art of ironwork Emile Robert, for instance,
20

is the equivalent of Lalique in glass, or
Delaherche in earthenware. And Robert
is not only a craftsman of the highest rank,
with a profound knowledge of the resources,
the possibilities, and the history of his art;
not only an accomplished technician ; he is
also a notable educator. He has brought
back the ironworker's art on to its proper
road ; he has made many disciples, and
there is no worker in iron but is indebted
to him both for his technical knowledge
and for his wise direction. MM. Brandt
and Szabo—to mention no more than two
of them—are conscious of all they owe to
this master, whose professional conscience
is on a par with his splendid talent. 0
I know of works by these two artists
which are perfectly designed and perfectly
executed, and which, while markedly mo-
dern, are at the same time inspired by
masterpieces of bygone days. G. M.