Pierre Le Faguays Known As Fayral (1892-1962), Night Light "towards The Oasis", Signed, Circa 1930

Nightlight sculpture in cast iron with a nuanced green patina, "vers l'oasis" model, produced by Max le Verrier, crackled glass by Daum, signed Fayral, black portor marble base. 20th century, Art Deco circa 1930. Pierre le Faguays was born in 1892 in Nantes, Paris, France. Pierre le Faguays was a French sculptor of supple female figures, monuments, ceramics, and figurative lamps working in the Art Deco style. Pierre Le Faguays first came to public attention with his early exhibitions of exuberant dancing figures, inspired by the statues of Tanagra, a community north of Athens known for its mass-produced terracotta figurines. It is believed that he also used the pseudonym Raymond Guerbe and Fayrel, which is reinforced by the similarities in subject and style. Le Faguays was originally from Nantes, France. He studied at the Paris Salon and in Geneva, Switzerland, and was a member of the Salon, La Stèle, and Evolution groups. His mediums included ivory, wood, stone, and bronze. In 1927, he received the French Medal of Honor. He was a leading sculptor, and his work is often praised for its high quality and attention to anatomical accuracy. He also created designs for Goldscheider in Paris under the label "La Stele." He worked in several mediums, including ivory, bronze, spelter, stone, wood, alabaster, and ceramics. He studied with his friend Max Le Verrier. He was a good friend of both Marcel Bouraine and Max Le Verrier, and the Le Verrier foundry produced many of Le Faguays' statues. All three had studied together at the Beaux Arts in Geneva and remained lifelong friends. There is also a discrepancy regarding his date of death, given as 1925, 1935, and 1962. A Papillon Gallery biography states that Le Faguays "exhibited in 1937 in Paris at the International Exhibition." Assuming this participation is true, this would make 1962 the likely date of death. Pierre le Faguays likely died on September 8, 1962, in Paris.