Arts & Crafts and Art Deco

At the cutting edge of the Art Nouveau movement was Alphonse Mucha, a Czech designer active in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Mucha’s hand was behind the Art Nouveau emphasis on beautiful women surrounded by stylized flora and fauna. Available in the upcoming Sworders auction of Arts & Crafts and Art Deco items is a pair of Mucha lithographs in the artist’s signature style. Tête Byzantine Brunette and Tête Byzantine Blonde show the heads of two women facing each other from opposite frames. Both figures wear jeweled hairpieces and translucent white garments. 

This sale also highlights furniture, fine art, and decorative works created before World War I. A bronze and ivory sculpture from Romanian artist Demétre Chiparus is among the key lots. Showing a flamenco dancer balanced on an onyx base, the piece was inspired by a Russian ballet and the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. The offered furniture lots include an embossed mahogany settee with an Arts & Crafts pattern, a 1930s European rug, and an assortment of Art Deco dining tables. To bid online and view the full catalog, visit the Sworders website.