Dimitri Chiparus Chryselephantine Sculpture Art Deco Woman With Goats Circa 1920

Dimitri Chiparus — “Woman Feeding Goats” France,
Paris, circa 1920
Materials: metal (spelter), green and gold patina; ivory; onyx base
Signature: DH Chiparus on the base
Dimensions: length 85.5 cm, height 47 cm
Condition: near excellent (slight chip on the stone base)
Attribution: attributed by experts, expert report available
Catalogue reference: model listed in the Chiparus catalogue (p. 21)

General description
Chiparus, Art Deco chryselephantine sculpture “Woman Feeding Goats” is a rare and remarkable example of early 20th-century French decorative sculpture. This work is distinguished by the harmony of its forms, the quality of its execution, and a pastoral subject rarely found in the artist's oeuvre. It belongs to the period of Dimitri Chiparus's artistic maturity and possesses first-rate artistic and collectable value.

Author and Style:
Dimitri Chiparus (1886–1947) was a Romanian-French sculptor who worked in Paris, famous for his chryselephantine sculptures combining bronze, spelter, and ivory. His work is closely linked to Art Deco aesthetics, exoticism, the world of ballet, and the idealized image of the 20th-century woman.
This sculpture belongs to a rarer body of pastoral scenes, which clearly distinguishes it from his celebrated figures of dancers.

Subject and Composition:
The composition Woman Feeding Goats depicts a young woman feeding two goats. The scene rests on a subtle balance between the elegant, almost theatrical grace of the female figure and the natural dynamism of the animals. Chiparus masterfully combines the slender verticality of the female body, the diagonal formed by the garland, and the supple movements of the goats, thus creating a simultaneous impression of calm and movement.

Materials and technique:
spelter with a golden-brown patina,
ivory (imitation ivory) for the face and hands,
onyx base.
This combination is characteristic of the finest French chryselephantine sculptures of the 1910s–1930s. The contrast between the warmth of the ivory and the coolness of the patinated metal enhances the expressiveness of the entire sculpture.

Signature and attribution:
The base bears the molded signature “DH Chiparus,” guaranteeing the work's authenticity. Of particular importance is the fact that the model is reproduced in Chiparus's reference catalogue on page 21, which constitutes essential confirmation of attribution.

Dating:
The work is dated to around 1920, a period corresponding to the height of Dimitri Chiparus's career, when his most iconic and sought-after compositions were created.

Artistic and Collector's Value:
This sculpture belongs to Chiparus's rare pastoral compositions, is executed in a high-quality period version, is of great interest to Art Deco collectors, and fits equally well in a prestigious interior or a museum setting. As a Chiparus Art Deco chryselephantine sculpture, this work represents an exceptional example of French decorative sculpture from the 1920s.

Overall Artistic Impression:
This is not merely a decorative object, but a refined image of the harmony between man and nature, a rare concept in the generally theatrical world of Art Deco. Chiparus departs here from stage exoticism to create a peaceful and almost idyllic composition, which gives this sculpture a very special artistic value.

Ref: 5030