Albert Cheuret

Christie’s Monaco, December 6, 1987, lot 254

Acquired from the above by the present owner

René Chavance, "À travers deux Expositions", Les Échos des Industries d'Art, July 1926, p. 8

Alastair Duncan, Art Deco Complete, New York, 2009, p. 15

Albert Chereut’s oeuvre encapsulates 1920s Parisian design thematically and employs luxurious materials to create a range of brilliant and dynamic objects; from geometric clocks to this dynamic “Hérons” Console. With his formative years including an education at the prestigious Parisian École des Beaux Arts and sculptural training under Jacques Perrin and Georges Lemaire, it is evident that Chereut was a master craftsman. A recurring theme in Cheruet’s work are birds executed in patinated bronze with exquisite detail. Herons hold significance in many cultures, including Japanese culture where they are mysterious and related to gods, death, and a link to other worlds. Japanese culture was a source of inspiration for Parisian designers during the second decade of the century, making herons a natural fascination for Cheuret. He employed herons and owls in his diverse opus to craft exquisite works with an element of fauna. Likely displayed at the iconic 1925 Paris Exposition, this “Hérons” Console is one of Chereut’s most masterful and ambitious works and has become synonymous as one of the great icons of the Art Deco period.