Lot 96

Alfons Mucha (1860 - 1939) PAIR OF ART NOUVEAU PLATES

A very rare contemporary example of paired plates with the then innovative technique of coloured printing on sheet metal with a design by the important representative of the world Art Nouveau, Alfons Mucha. Specifically, it is the work "Byzatische Heads", which Mucha created in 1897. Mucha viewed Byzantine civilization as the spiritual home of Slavic culture. In his characteristic style, he incorporated various decorative motifs inspired by Byzantine art, such as mosaics, icons, and flamboyant costumes and accessories. The two women are seen in profile against an ornate background of floral arabesques. In their hair they wear richly Byzantine jewelry with pearls and gems.  In both pano, strands of hair fall beyond the circular frame, crossing the imaginary boundary between the woman in the painting and the viewer. The pattern around the circular frame simulates lace, a decorative element familiar from Moravian craftsmanship. On the basis of these detailed designs, the Parisian jeweller Fouquet decided to ask Mucha to help him create a collection for the 1900 World Exhibition.