André Dubreuil

Collection of Anne Schlumberger, Houston, Texas, commissioned directly from the artist via Galerie Mougin, Paris, 1999

Thence by descent to the present owners

Jean-Louis Gaillemin, André Dubreuil, Poet of Iron, Paris, 2006, n.p., no. 170 (for the present lot illustrated)

The present and following lot, a pair of monumental “Sputnik” Floor Lamps, epitomize the singular vision, defiant ornamentation, and technical ingenuity for which André Dubreuil is celebrated. Commissioned in 1999 by Anne Schlumberger from Galerie Mougin, the lamps were conceived at the height of the designer’s artistic maturity.

Executed in steel and copper, these luminous sculptures evoke the celestial wonder suggested by their namesake satellite. Their impressive scale and curious form are enhanced by exuberant detailing inspired by eighteenth-century French ironwork. The acid-etched surfaces, at once organic and mechanical, are brought to life by three discreetly concealed bulbs on the body of each lamp. Contrasting metal finishes are accentuated by deep blue enamel, meticulously applied by hand, adding a subtle yet vibrant counterpoint to the composition. Conceived to orchestrate a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, the “Sputnik” Lamps reveal Dubreuil’s enduring fascination with illumination. The sharply cut, extruded metal elements project intriguing silhouettes that transform and enrich any interior.

These extraordinary works stand among the most compelling expressions of André Dubreuil’s enigmatic yet distinctive aesthetic, which defies genre and classification. Firmly at odds with the minimalist ethos embraced by many of his contemporaries, the “Sputnik” Floor Lamps assert ornamentation and champion the primacy of craftsmanship. Largely self-taught, Dubreuil’s mastery of metalworking aligns him with the great ébénistes of the past, notably his idol Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, combining technical virtuosity with an irrepressible decorative imagination.

Despite a relatively limited output attributed to a made-to-order model and a refusal to replicate previous commissions, Dubreuil’s daring creations are coveted by distinguished collectors, museums and institutions alike.