Mirror, mirror on the wall... Who's the greatest 20th century French craftswoman of them all? Line Vautrin (1913-1997) is certainly among the most admired.
The French-born artist became famous for her bronze objects which are very collectible today.
Talosel jewellery, bronze boxes, buttons and compacts were all in Vautrin's repertoire.
And also mirrors, a classic example of which sold for €20,000 (approximately $26,309) - more than double its €5,000-8,000 presale estimate - in Lyon, France, earlier this week (February 4).
The material Talosel, a kind of cellulose acetate, is especially associated with Vautrin and was used in many of her Art Deco works.
 Sun Mirror No. 3 by Line Vautrin - it sold for €20,000 |
Entitled Sun Mirror No. 3, this piece dates to 1955 and measures 49cm in diameter. Its structure is made from circular resin and Talosel black guilloche. The mirror's double crown bears hooks lined with 'black mirror' Talosel decorations.
Vautrin's signature on the mirror's reverse verified its authenticity for bidders at the Lyon sale. Elsewhere, a similar reproduction of this mirror can be seen in Patrick Mauriès's 2004 book, 'Line Vautrin - Mirrors'.
Sun Mirror No. 3 remains a classic, unique and authentic example of Line Vautrin's important and influential Art Deco works.
The mirror's €20,000 success in this sale suggests that Vautrin's collectible creations could be ones to watch in future.
