The unique work shown here of a “Renard marchand” has an interesting and quite special
history. During the first Wold War Le Bourgeois founded, together with Francois Carnot, a toy
factory in Puteaux (“Le jouet de France”). This was a social project to help injured war victims
to regain their dignity and social worthiness. In 1918 the factory was inaugurated by the
French president Raymond Poincaré. The employees made many wooden toys for the
Parisian warehouses, such as; “Le Printemps”, “Le Bon Marché” and the “Galeries Lafayette”,
they were all designed by Le Bourgeois, the painter Henri Rapin and the artist Jaulmes.
One employee developed a special machine to help the workers to improve and quicken
the production. He was given a nick-name by Le Bourgeois: “Le Renard”.
For his cleverness the employee was awarded, at leaving the factory in the beginning of the
’20 s, this unique sculpture of a fox. It has remained in his possession, and later in that of his
family, ever since.
Antes Art 1900
Artist: Gaston-Étienne Le Bourgeois (1880-1956)
Title: “Renard marchand”
Material: Gestoken hout, verguld en verzilverd
Period: 1920 - 1925
Measurements.: Height.: 55,5 cms. / Width: 76,5 cms.
Sculptor and decorator Gaston-Étienne le Bourgeois made through his career many animal
sculptures in stone, bronze, ivory and wood. His works were exhibited at the “Salon des Artistes décorateurs” and from 1912 onward at the “Salon d’automne”. In 1921 his first solo exhibition took place at the “Musée des Arts Décoratifs” in Paris. Two years later he was asked to design some small sculptures in ivory by Louis Vuitton. In 1925 he took part in the great exhibition of the “Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industrielles Modernes” in Paris. He received many state contracts, but also from private collectors. By the French couturier Jacques Doucet he was commissioned a wooden sculpted closet.
Antes Art 1900
