Erté"Mignon" Decca design
About the Item
- Creator:Erté (1892 - 1990, Russian)
- Dimensions:Height: 18.25 in (46.36 cm)Width: 18.25 in (46.36 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Generally good condition with some issues consistent with age - rub marks, scattered scuffs and scratches under raking light, scattered handling dents and some minor toning.
- Gallery Location:Greenwich, CT
- Reference Number:
Erté
Born Romain de Tirtoff (1892–1990) in St. Petersburg, Russia, to an aristocratic family, the artist known as Erté — a pseudonym derived from the French pronunciation of his initials — was a Renaissance man of the art and design world. He worked in graphic arts, interior design, fashion, jewelry and set design for the stage and silver screen, becoming a leader of the Art Deco style.
Moving to Paris in 1912, Erté worked as a fashion designer under couturier Paul Poiret before securing a job with Harper’s Bazaar as a cover artist. Over 22 years, Erté created more than 240 magazine covers alongside his ongoing work in fashion design.
Extending his prolific career into theater sets, costumes, prints and lithographs, Erté became one of the most famous artists of the era. His style — a combination of the nature-inspired flourishes of Art Nouveau and bold, geometric linework — directly contributed to the birth of Art Deco, earning him the nickname “the Father of Art Deco.”
After a lull of creative production in the 1940s and 1950s, Erté reentered the public eye in the 1960s, when a renewed interest in Art Deco had taken shape.
Creating colorful lithographs, bold serigraphs (silk-screen prints) and bronze sculptures, he contributed to a resurgence of the style in France and beyond. This late-life acclaim for his art led to exhibitions in museums and galleries all over the world as well as his first published monograph in 1970. That same year he was awarded the title of Chevalier du Mérite Artistique et Cultural and in 1976 was named Officier des Arts et Lettres by the French government.
Today, Erté’s works are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and LACMA in Los Angeles.
On 1stDibs, browse a collection of Erté art, including fine art prints, paintings and other works.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New Orleans, LA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Geometry (Earrings)By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTCreated in the 1980s for Erté's 'Art to Wear' jewelry collection, this gouache painting on paper is signed 'Erté' on the front and titled and annotated on the back in Erté's hand - "...Category
1980s Art Deco Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- Henri Bendel Coat, 1915By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTErté created dress and coat designs for Henri Bendel for several years, beginning in 1914. Erté's artistry had a profound effect on women's fashions, beginning with his stint at Poir...Category
1910s Art Deco Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- "Lakme" Decca designBy ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTThis design for a Decca recording of Lakme likely dates to the 1950s, and specifically to the 1952 recording with Mado Robin, conductor Georges Sébastian, at the Théâtre National de ...Category
20th Century Art Deco Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- Manon (Deuxième Tableau, #7), 1920By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTErté first met the legendary beauty Ganna Walska in 1920 when she contacted him about creating designs for her nascent opera career. He created many desig...Category
1920s Art Deco Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- Untitled Fashion Design, 1919By ErtéLocated in Greenwich, CTLikely a dress design for Henri Bendel or B. Altman, Untitled Fashion Design from 1919 is an iconic early Erté design. Erté's stylized Villa Excelsior name stamp and the 'Composition...Category
1910s Art Deco Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsGouache, Paper
- Straw Hat, 2020By Douglas HofmannLocated in Greenwich, CTStraw Hat is a watercolor on paper painting, 12 x 9" image size, signed ‘HOFMANN’ lower left, and framed in a contemporary, white frame. Hofmann has remarked that Vermeer was the pi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paint...
MaterialsWatercolor, Paper
- Le roi de Lahore by ErtéBy ErtéLocated in New Orleans, LAErté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 | Russian-French Le roi de Lahore (The King of Lahore) Signed “Erté” (lower right) Inscribed "Les Rois des Légendes / No. 11 / Le Roi de Lahore /...Category
20th Century Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Ink, Gouache
- Mistinguett by ErtéBy Erte - Romain de TirtoffLocated in New Orleans, LAErté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French Mistinguett Signed "Erté" (lower right) Stamped "Composition originale" (en verso) Gouache on paper Erté designed this costume fo...Category
20th Century Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Gouache
- Costume Oriental by ErtéBy Erte - Romain de TirtoffLocated in New Orleans, LAErté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 | Russian-French Costume Oriental Signed “Erté”(lower right) Inscribed "No. 19" (en verso) Gouache on paper Titled Costume Oriental, this ensemble epitomizes Erté's signature fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetic elements. The attire features grey pantaloons enveloped by a vivid red skirt adorned with intricate white Orientalist motifs. The bodice, a geometric tapestry of black and white stripes, is composed of narrow horizontal black bands juxtaposed with glittering gemstones. This visual harmony is accentuated by a trio of diamond shapes vertically aligned on the chest. The crowning element is a gem-encrusted turban, surmounted by three red fan shapes, lending the headpiece the appearance of a striking medallion. This sartorial masterpiece is an authentic Erté creation for the 1926 rendition of George White's Scandals, staged at the Heilig Theatre in Portland, Oregon. The revue initially debuted at the Apollo Theatre in New York City on June 30, 1924, enjoying a run of 196 performances before embarking on a tour. Orchestrated by George White from 1919 to 1939, the Scandals series distinguished itself through its timely comedy and exceptional choreography, a testament to White's expertise as a dancer. In contrast to the more lavish Ziegfeld Follies,Scandals offered a streamlined yet sophisticated experience. The Sixth Edition was particularly remarkable for its artistic collaborations: Erté designed the scenery and curtains, while George Gershwin composed the musical score, which included the classic "Somebody Loves Me." The production featured an ensemble of notable performers, including Nyra Brown and the Leeland Sisters. The artist, Russian-French visionary Romain de Tirtoff (1892-1990), popularly known as Erté, began his artistic journey in the culturally rich city of St. Petersburg, where he developed an early fondness for ballet and theatrical performances. He moved to Paris in 1912 to study architecture, and quickly found his creative niche in crafting fantastical costumes for the city’s bustling nightlife. Erté‘s expertise, refined under the guidance of the famed Paul Poiret, captured the attention of Harper’s Bazaar, marking the beginning of a significant partnership that spanned from 1915 to 1936. The artist also designed sets for notable cinematic masterpieces including Ben Hur and La Bohème, and created sets and costumes for cabarets, operas and other performances at the Folies-Bergères, Bal Tabarin, the Théâtre du Bataclan and Le Casino de Paris. Often remembered as the “Father of Art Deco,” Erté was a trailblazer whose colorful creations shaped the groundbreaking Art Deco era more than any other, leaving an indelible mark on the history of art and design. His artworks reside in prestigious museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Painted 1926 Paper: 12“ high x 9 wide Frame: 19 1/4“ high x 16 1/8” wide x 5/8" deep Exhibitions: M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté and the Era of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 - January 3, 2024 Provenance: Private collection, Paris Christie's South Kensington: Sale, 2014 Bouret Gonzalez Collection Sydney and Sibyl Colefax...Category
20th Century Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Gouache
- Les fleurs du mal by ErtéBy Erte - Romain de TirtoffLocated in New Orleans, LAErté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French Fleurs du Mal(The Flowers of Evil) Signed "Erté" (lower right) Inscribed 114.6 (en verso) Gouache on paper Captivating and vibrant, this colorful gouache entitledFleurs du Mal showcases Erté's masterful creativity and keen eye. Inspired by Les Fleurs du mal, the famed volume of poems by French writer Charles Baudelaire, this ensemble marries light purple and green floral motifs with the suggestive form of red lips poised for a smooch. This daring yet feminine appearance encapsulates the Art Deco allure for which the artist's creations are cherished. The sophisticated arrangement emanates the fundamental richness and theatricality that can only be accomplished by Erté, often hailed as the "Father of Art Deco." First published in 1857, Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal was controversial for its suggestive content and themes of decadence and eroticism. The volume provided a wealth of inspiration for Erté and he drew from several themes to create original fashion sketches...Category
20th Century Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Gouache
- Les Travestis By ErtéBy Erte - Romain de TirtoffLocated in New Orleans, LAErté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French Les travestis (The Transvestites) Signed “Erté” (lower right) Inscribed "No. 18.363 / Moi, j'aime le music-hall / Les Travestis" (en verso) Gouache on paper Erté’s costume...Category
20th Century Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Gouache
- La Valse By ErtéBy Erte - Romain de TirtoffLocated in New Orleans, LAErté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French La valse Signed “Erté” (lower right) Inscribed "No. 4096 / La Traviata / Acte I / Scenes II et IV / La Valse / Composition origin...Category
20th Century Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsGouache, Paper