Silver-plated metal sculpture signed Igor Mitoraj for Christofle, 1977

A silver-plated metal sculpture signed by Igor Mitoraj and produced by Christofle for the Saint-Louis crystalworks. This sculpture depicts a bandaged face, signed by the artist in the lower left corner and engraved inside with “Happy New Year - 1977 - Bouilhet”. The face rests on a square base of blackened wood, upon which is affixed a gilt plaque marked “Saint-Louis”. Igor Mitoraj (1944-2014) was an artist of Polish origin. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow before traveling to France, Italy, and then Mexico, where he began sculpting and developed a passion for pre-Columbian art. In 1983, he established his studio in Pietrasanta, Italy, where he developed a new artistic language borrowed from ancient Latin and Greek statuary, producing statues representing busts of men, faces, and whole or fragmented bodies. As Claudio Malberti writes, “In the complete sculptures (generally heads), one admires the virile grace of the modeling (which is not a contradiction) and especially the unusual patinas, imbued with a restrained yet vibrant sensuality. In the truncated or torn sculptures, on the contrary, a dramatic and dynamic dimension prevails. These tears in the torsos and heads are like large, gaping wounds, there to bear witness to all the fragility and precariousness of human existence” (in Igor Mitoraj, Milan, Art-Objet, 1986). Monumental statues are installed in the city center, demonstrating the desire to “encourage public interaction with works that can themselves constitute a space for strolling” (source: Vincent Zonca - https://www.boumbang.com/igor-mitoraj/). Dimensions: H10 x W6.5 x D3.5 cm. Color: silver. Materials: silver-plated metal. Manufacturer: Christofle.