Lucien Alliot Spelter Sculpture Serpentine Ballerina Art Nouveau France c1925

Description

Behold ‘Serpentine’ a mesmerizing masterpiece that captures the elegance of motion and the allure of the Art Nouveau period.

Crafted by renowned French sculptor Lucien Alliot circa 1925, "Serpentine" is a spellbinding tribute to the Art Nouveau movement, blending organic fluidity with timeless sophistication. This exquisite spelter sculpture depicts a sinuous female figure mid-movement, her body arching gracefully as if caught in a celestial dance. The title "Serpentine" evokes the sinuous curves, mirrored in the sculpture’s undulating lines and dynamic posture, a hallmark of Alliot’s ability to transform metal into poetry.

Lucien Alliot (1877 - 1967), a celebrated sculptor and president of the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français, was a bridge between Art Nouveau’s organic forms and the spiritual depth of religious art. His works, displayed globally and honored at the 1924 Olympic art competitions, reflect a mastery of emotive composition. "Serpentine" exemplifies his early 20th-century fascination with human grace, crafted during the zenith of Art Nouveau’s influence.

Radiating the sensuality and fluidity of Art Nouveau, "Serpentine" marries theatrical flair with symbolic depth. The figure’s elongated limbs and flowing drapery suggest both freedom and restraint, while her upward gaze hints at aspiration or transcendence. Alliot may have sought to immortalize the era’s fascination with nature’s rhythms—where art and life intertwine like vines.

Cast in durable spelter (a prized zinc alloy of the period) and mounted on a veined marble base, this sculpture balances delicacy with permanence. It bears a plaque on the base that reads "Serpentine par L Alliot". The warm patina of the metal contrasts elegantly with the cool marble, a testament to Alliot’s eye for texture and contrast. In overall good condition except for two missing fingers. A small detail that gives the figure a touch of wabi-sabi, the philosophy that finds beauty in discernable age and imperfections. Signed on the bottom, its provenance and authenticity elevate its collectible status.

As a relic of the 1920s, "Serpentine" embodies the cultural effervescence of interwar Europe. Alliot’s works are held in global collections, and this piece, rarely available on the market, offers a tangible connection to an era when art celebrated beauty as rebellion. Its blend of craftsmanship and metaphor makes it a coveted centerpiece for collectors of Art Nouveau, vintage décor, or French sculptural heritage.

"Serpentine" is an ode to artistic innovation, and an investment in history. Whether displayed in a modern loft or a classic study, it infuses spaces with timeless elegance. For admirers of Alliot’s legacy or seekers of one-of-a-kind art, this signed masterpiece is a rare opportunity to own a fragment of Paris’s golden age.