Bidspirit auction | EMILE GILIOLI FOR BACCARAT, ”FRANCESCA”

EMILE GILIOLI FOR BACCARAT, ”FRANCESCA” - ”Francesca”, a limited edition sculpture circa 1961 by designer Emile Gilioli for Baccarat. In good overall condition with minor scratches and blemishes throughout. This sculpture measures 4.5'' H x 7'' W x 5'' D. Influenced by the work of Brancusi, Émile Gilioli (1911-1977) designed, in a strictly non-figurative style, volumes apparently simple, but subtly irregular, curved or sharp-edged. He joined the group of abstract artists of the Denise René gallery, in Paris, where he exhibited in 1948 alongside the greatest sculptors of his time: Arp, Calder, Picasso, Laurens, Giacometti and Vasarely.​ With Émile Gilioli, the first abstract sculptures edited by Baccarat appeared in 1956, one of which was presented two years later at the Brussels International Exhibition.​ This massive sculpture highlights the architectural aspect of the artist's approach to abstraction, which reached a climax with the sculpture Château Fort, where optical games, the reflection in the material, makes the work come alive according to the evolution of the surrounding space.