Affortunato Gory Bronze Sculpture Dancer With Flame Art Deco 1920-1925

Silver-plated bronze on marble base
This sculpture embodies all the grace and sensuality of the Art Deco aesthetic, an iconic artistic movement of the 1920s. Created by Affortunato Gory, an Italian sculptor born in Florence, this work demonstrates remarkable refinement in both form and expression.

The female figure is depicted in a dancing posture, kneeling on a checkered floor of yellow and white marble, mounted on a green-veined marble base. Her arms stretched toward the sky, her face tilted in a gentle expression of surrender, suggest a moment of ecstasy or devotion. The serene facial features are finely chiseled, evoking both a classical delicacy and a modernity specific to Art Deco.

The body, entirely nude and cast in silver-plated bronze, has a polished surface, punctuated by slight oxidation that testifies to its age and adds to its antique character. The anatomical curves are treated with controlled naturalism, giving the sculpture a striking vitality.

Beside the dancer, a small patinated bronze basin, finely decorated with floral motifs, rests on a tripod adorned with clawed feet. It contains a stylized golden flame, likely a symbol of spirituality, passion, or artistic inspiration. This accessory reinforces the ritual or sacred dimension of the scene.

Artist Biography:
Affortunato Gory (born in Florence, exact date unknown) trained at the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Florence under the sculptor Augusto Rivalta. He then moved to Paris, the artistic capital of the time, where he continued his apprenticeship with Victorien-Antoine Bastet. He exhibited regularly at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1902 to 1923, building a reputation for his sculptures of dancing women, mythological figures, and elegant busts, often made from mixed materials such as bronze, ivory, and marble.

Dimensions :
Dimensions: Length 18 cm – Width 30 cm – Height 50 cm