Rockefeller Collection's Bronze Lamps Set Based on Giacometti's 'Tête de Femme'
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Diameter: 6 in (15.24 cm)
- Power Source:Plug-in
- Lampshade:Not Included
- Style:Expressionist (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. These table lamps are presented without electrical cord, allowing the purchaser the freedom to customize the lamps' installation according to their lighting needs and interior design aesthetic.
- Seller Location:North Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8678238068812
Alberto Giacometti
Alberto Giacometti was a painter, printmaker and furniture designer but he is best known as one of the 20th century’s most important sculptors. He is revered for the elongated, slender human figures he created in the years following World War II that reflected existentialism and the trauma associated with the conflict.
Giacometti was born in Borgonovo, Switzerland, in 1901 to a creative family. His father Giovanni was a Post-Impressionist painter, his godfather Cuno Amiet was a Fauvist painter, his brother Bruno was an architect, and his other brother Diego was an artist and furniture designer who also served as Giacometti’s model. (The sculptor worked chiefly with models plucked from his personal life.)
Beginning in 1922, Giacometti studied at the Académie de la Grande-Chaumière in Paris and was influenced by the Cubist work of Alexander Archipenko, Raymond Duchamp-Villon and the post-Cubist sculptures of Jacques Lipchitz and Henri Laurens.
During the 1930s, Giacometti designed furniture such as lamps, vases and wall décor to earn a living, often collaborating with interior designer Jean-Michel Frank, whose interiors tastefully mixed extravagance with sophisticated simplicity. However, Giacometti’s passion lay in creating sculptures.
Alberto and his brother Diego left Paris in 1940 to escape the Nazi invasion and spent time in the South of France before fleeing to Geneva, remaining there until 1946. In 1947, Giacometti began work on his most famous sculptures — very tall and thin figurines that came to be associated with frailty and loneliness.
Giacometti catapulted to fame in the United States following two exhibitions of his sculptures in 1948 and 1950 at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York City — Jean-Paul Sartre authored the catalogue essay for the latter. In 1961, Giacometti’s friend, Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, asked him to design the set for a re-staging of his play “Waiting for Godot.” His response took on the form of a single plaster tree.
In 1962, Giacometti won the grand prize for sculpture at the Venice Biennale, and for much of the rest of his career, he created modern paintings, drawings and sculptures of plaster, clay and bronze in his small Paris studio. He died in 1966.
Giacometti’s works continue to enthrall collectors. In 2010, his life-size bronze sculpture L'Homme qui marche (“the man who walks”), which now adorns the 100 Swiss Franc banknote, became one of the most expensive sculptures to be sold at auction.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Alberto Giacometti wall decorations, prints and sculptures.
Diego Giacometti
For Swiss sculptor Diego Giacometti, a talent for art ran in the family — his brothers were multi-disciplinary artist Alberto Giacometti and architect Bruno Giacometti, and their father was Post-Impressionist painter Giovanni Giacometti. But Diego was a gifted artist in his own right, creating furniture and lively animal sculptures that earned him considerable acclaim in his later years.
Diego was born in the farming village of Borgonovo in 1902. The Giacometti patriarch encouraged his sons to pursue art, and Diego and Alberto began working together in a Paris studio when Diego was 25. They engaged in a rivalry that is typical of like-minded siblings but were also supportive of one another.
Alberto pushed Diego to become a caster, and Diego served as his brother’s assistant, helping bring his designs to life. Diego also sat as a model for many of Alberto's now-revered sculptures and busts, as the sculptor worked chiefly with models plucked from his personal life. The duo also regularly created artwork and objects for French interior and furniture designer Jean-Michel Frank, whose other collaborators included Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Diego began focusing more on his own bronze sculpture during World War II. Inspired by his childhood farm life, he created bronze horses, dogs, cats, mice and foxes. During the late 1940s, Alberto began work on his most famous modernist sculptures — very tall and thin figurines that came to be associated with frailty and loneliness — while Diego branched out into furniture design. The latter’s tables, seating and other pieces earned him an array of devoted clientele. Celebrated French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy sought his work out with frequency.
After Alberto died in 1966, Diego continued designing furniture and attracting more clients. He worked on projects for Fondation Maeght, Marc Chagall National Museum and Musée Picasso Paris.
Find a collection of original Diego Giacometti art and furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 10 days of delivery.
- Expressionist Ceramic Sculpture Based on "The Cat Butler" by Diego GiacomettiBy Diego GiacomettiLocated in North Miami, FLEarly 20th century Expressionist glazed ceramic sculpture based on "The Cat Butler" by Diego Giacometti By: Diego Giacometti (in the style of) ...Category
Early 20th Century French Expressionist Animal Sculptures
MaterialsEnamel
- Late 20th C. Expressionist Giacometti-Like Pair of French Bronze Candle HoldersBy Diego GiacomettiLocated in North Miami, FLLate 20th century Expressionist Giacometti-like pair of french bronze candle holders By: Diego Giacometti (in the style of) Material: bro...Category
Late 20th Century French Expressionist Candlesticks
MaterialsCopper, Metal, Bronze
- Pair of Danish Design Lamps with Translucent/Textured Acrylic Rectangular BasesLocated in North Miami, FLPair of Industrial design table lamps with translucent acrylic rectangular prism shaped plinths By: unknown Material: acrylic, cord, metal, synthetic, plastic Technique: cast, forge...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Brutalist Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Art Déco Enameled Porcelain Owl-Shapped Perfume Lamp by German Company AerozonBy AerozonLocated in North Miami, FLArt Déco enameled porcelain owl-shapped perfume lamp manufactured by german company Aerozon By: Aerozon Material: porcelain, ceramic, enamel, paint Technique: molded, pressed, ename...Category
Mid-20th Century German Art Deco Table Lamps
MaterialsEnamel
- Pair of Jean-Michel Frank's Iron 'Croisillon' Lamps for Argentine Company ComteBy Jean-Michel Frank, Comte S.A.Located in North Miami, FLPair of Jean-Michel Frank's iron 'Croisillon' design table lamps for argentine Company Comte By: Jean-Michel Frank, Comte S.A. Material: iron, metal, cord Technique: cast, molded, p...Category
Vintage 1930s Argentine Art Deco Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Iron
- Early 20th C. Expressionist Bronze Woman Sculpture with Marble Base by A. MontiLocated in North Miami, FLEarly 20th century Expressionist patinated bronze woman sculpture with marble base signed by italian sculptor A. Monti By: A. Monti Material: bronze, marble, copper, metal Technique...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Expressionist Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMarble, Bronze, Metal, Copper
- Tete De Femme Table Lamp Alberto Giacometti, 1960By Alberto GiacomettiLocated in Chicago, ILTete De Femme Table Lamp after Alberto Giacometti, 1960. White enameled metal.Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Giacometti Style "Tete de Femme" Cast Plaster Table LampBy Alberto GiacomettiLocated in Dallas, TX"Tete de Femme" (Head of a Woman) cast plaster table lamp in the style of Giacometti.Category
20th Century Table Lamps
MaterialsPlaster
- Painted Plaster "Tête De Femme" Table Lamp After Diego GiacomettiBy Diego GiacomettiLocated in Montreal, QCPainted plaster tête de femme table lamp, after Diego Giacometti.Category
Vintage 1970s Table Lamps
MaterialsPlaster
- "Tete de Femme" Table Lamp, Giacometti styleBy SirmosLocated in East Hampton, NYThe Sirmos collection called "Masque" and "Colette" was produced with direct inspiration from the surrealist sculptor, Diego Giacometti, his original design for Jean Michel Frank. El...Category
Vintage 1970s American Table Lamps
MaterialsResin, Plaster
- "Tete de Femme" Floor Lamp Styled After GiacomettiBy Diego GiacomettiLocated in Bradenton, FL"Tete de Femme" floor lamp in the manner of the model produced by Alberto Giacometti in the 1930's. This one has the added bonus of not costing $250,000 but is in the style of and no...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsResin
- Giacometti Syrie Maugham Style “Tete de Femme” Plaster LampsBy Syrie MaughamLocated in Palm Springs, CAA great pair of plaster after the “Tete de Femme” lamps designed by Giacometti for Syrie Maugham in the 1930’s. These lamps look to be from the 1960’s based on the wiring and electri...Category
20th Century Unknown Table Lamps
MaterialsPlaster