Object of the Month - Jean Després Candlesticks
1st March 2024
Counting Andy Warhol and Josephine Baker among his collectors, the jewellery designer and silversmith, Jean Després moved in illustrious circles.
The French designer was apprenticed to a silversmith at 16 and studied design in Paris where he mingled with artists including Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso and Amedeo Modigliani. Georges Braque became a particular friend, and the influence of these Cubist artists can be seen in this pair of Modernist silver-plated candelabra that feature in our March sale of Clarice Cliff, Art Deco and Design.
Després’ use of geometric forms began with his love of Cubist art and is echoed in the square bases, textured rectangular stems and raised, polished circular motifs of this pair of candelabra.
During the First World War, Després was employed by the French air force in the design and production of aircraft parts. The utilitarianism of these pieces would go on to have a significant impact on his work, and he focused primarily on his silver and silvered metal designs after 1919, working from a studio at the back of his house. The raised ball motifs on these candelabra echo the ball bearings he came across so regularly during his wartime design work, and his indiscriminate use of silver plate alongside real silver demonstrates his focus on design rather than intrinsic material.
In the early years, his work drew mixed reviews as some viewed it as too avant garde. By 1943 the Salon d’Automne (that had previously refused to exhibit his work) now showcased it alongside that of Raymond Templar. In 1958 he won a gold medal at the Brussels World Fair. His metalwork was now instantly recognisable and Després was prolific in his output, with a determined work ethic.
The iconography of the pair of candelabra make them stand out as a Després design, whilst their stature adds to their rarity and desirability. Consigned from a private collection, they are a highlight among a number of works by this Modernist designer that feature in the auction of 20th March. They carry a pre-sale estimate of £15,000-20,000.
