Edgar Brandt and Daum “Cobra” Torchère

$39,500
Drawing on ancient Egyptian symbolism, this Edgar Brandt and Daum “Cobra” torchère centers on the protective and sacred image of the cobra. Pharaohs traditionally wore the figure of the asp, or uraeus, on their crowns as a talisman against enemies, and here the serpent assumes a commanding presence as the base of the lamp. Its throat is dramatically dilated, and its scaled body is rendered with remarkable sensitivity in bronze, the patina achieved through a complex process of chemical oxidation. The tail coils ontop of a basket lid, a subtle reference to the practice of snake charming often depicted in nineteenth-century Orientalist paintings. The Egyptian inspiration extends to the shade, whose form recalls the torch holders used by workers in the catacombs at North Saqqara. Produced by Daum using the technique of vitrification, the hot glass was rolled on a marver through particles of metal oxide or finely ground colored glass, then re-fired so that the material fused into the surface. Subsequent wheel polishing and immersion in hydrochloric acid create a softly frosted finish, enhancing the luminous, almost ritual quality of the object.
Category: Daum Nancy Decorative Arts Gifts $20,000 - $50,000 Lighting New Acquisitions
Product Details

Item #: EL-19494
Artist: Edgar Brandt & Daum Nancy
Country: France
Circa: 1925
Dimensions: 20" height, 6" width.
Materials: Glass, Bronze
Signed: Stamped E. BRANDT on the tail and engraved signature DAUM NANCY FRANCE with the Croix de Lorraine on the glass shade
Literature: Yvonne Brunhammer, Le style 1925 , id., p.185; Joan Kahr, Edgar Brandt: Master of Art Deco Ironwork , id., p.157

Item #: EL-19494
Artist: Edgar Brandt & Daum Nancy
Country: France
Circa: 1925
Dimensions: 20" height, 6" width.
Materials: Glass, Bronze
Signed: Stamped E. BRANDT on the tail and engraved signature DAUM NANCY FRANCE with the Croix de Lorraine on the glass shade
Literature: Yvonne Brunhammer, Le style 1925 , id., p.185; Joan Kahr, Edgar Brandt: Master of Art Deco Ironwork , id., p.157

Curator's Notes
Edgar Brandt, who found fame and fortune as an artillery designer and manufacturer in France during the first and second world wars, was most dedicated to his work as an artist in metalwork. He made invaluable contributions to both country and the arts, receiving such prestigious awards as Knight of the Legion of Honor, and the Medal of Honor for Applied Art by the Societe des Artistes Francais.
Edgar Brandt, who found fame and fortune as an artillery designer and manufacturer in France during the first and second world wars, was most dedicated to his work as an artist in metalwork. He made invaluable contributions to both country and the arts, receiving such prestigious awards as Knight of the Legion of Honor, and the Medal of Honor for Applied Art by the Societe des Artistes Francais.
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