Adrien Etienne Gaudez

Overall in good condition with the usual dents, nicks and scratches consistent with age. Some wear to gilt highlights. The model with the plume has earrings slightly larger than its pendant companion, suggesting that they have possibly been recast.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Gaudez was born in Lyon and exhibited at the Salon from 1864 to 1889, winning gold medals at the Exposition Universelles of 1889 and 1900, a few years before his death, in Neuilly, in January 1902. He was awarded the Legion d'Honneur in 1893.

Romantic portrayals of African countries in contemporary literature and operas, such as L'Africaine and Aïda, fueled this exoticism. In America, the Turkish Bazaar in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition further heightened the fascination with "Turkish" or "Moorish" subjects which lasted well into the 1880s. Orientalist themes allowed artists to break away from stark monochromatic Neoclassicism, and utilize a variety of gilt and silvered bronze, and mixing marble, onyx, and colored stones added richness to their work.