Akiba Antiques Presents Guimard Art Nouveau Lamps and European Fine Art

For French architect and designer Hector Guimard, harmonious design was the most important consideration. Guimard worked on the cutting edge of Art Nouveau during the later 19th and early 20th centuries. In his version of the style, lessons learned from nature could be applied to buildings and household objects, all in the service of promoting national ideals. “Nature is a big book from which we can draw inspiration,” Guimard said, “and it is in that book that we must look for principles, which, when found, have to be defined and applied by the human mind according to human needs.” A pair of 1870s Art Nouveau table lamps designed by Hector Guimard lead the upcoming Palm Beach Interiors sale from Akiba Antiques. Made of gilt bronze with hanging crystal tubes forming the shades, these lamps recall the elegance of a waterfall or the curves of a willow tree. 

Another notable item in the sale is a figural oil painting from French artist Jean Marius Fouque. The artist worked closely with members of the European nobility during the second half of the 19th century. Fouque often captured the likenesses of kings and leaders, including Emperor Napoleon III and Rama V, the king of Siam (today known as Thailand). The available Fouque painting shows a young woman seated in a garden. She holds a letter in one hand but gazes absently into the distance. Other notable lots in this event include a stainless steel sculpture attributed to Marzio Cecchi, a selection of glass art pieces from Daum, and 20th-century American furniture. Visit LiveAuctioneers to view the complete catalog and register to bid.