French Mid-Century Modernism

Jacques Sitoleux

for Christolfe

"Orgues”

Flower Vase

Silver –Plated Metal

1969

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DIMENSIONS

Height: 12-1/2 inches         Width: 5-1/8 inches         Depth: 5-1/8 inches

 

ABOUT VASE

The extraordinary geometric and minimalist design of this tubular flower vase sets it apart as a true masterpiece, distinguishing it from all others in its class. Its sleek, refined form captures the essence of modern elegance, with bold yet simple lines that exude sophistication and timeless beauty. This vase, like all creations bearing the name of the legendary designer Jacques Sitoleux, showcases a perfect balance of functional artistry and cutting-edge design. Sitoleux, a visionary of the 20th century, was known for his ability to merge craftsmanship with innovation, and this piece stands as a testament to his remarkable skill. Every curve, every angle in the vase reflects his unwavering commitment to both aesthetic perfection and practical utility, making it not just a decorative object, but a statement of design excellence. Whether standing alone or holding a vibrant bouquet, this vase elevates any space with its elegance, embodying the very spirit of French design and the lasting influence of Jacques Sitoleux.

 

ABOUT ARTIST

Jacques Sitoleux was born in Paris, France in 1930. He spent a large part of his youth in a small village named Sambin, in the "Vallée de la Loire" area. He joined Christofle in 1966 as the director of what was to become the Bureau de Création des Modèles (BCM) and he spent his whole career there, retiring in January 1996. In 1969 He created the amazing collection Christofle Contemporain. It was Henri Bouilhet who launched the idea of a new collection. He clarified his intentions in the release note which accompanied the launch in 1969: Christofle should not be only the “Specialist of past styles”; he wanted the pieces for this new collection "to be at the forefront of contemporary trends". In further reference to the new products, he specified: ‘their life span will be... more ephemeral than that of past style pieces... But it is certain that one will note in decades to come that these contemporary pieces will have defined their time’. The collection Christofle Contemporain was launched in October 1969, intended to be avant- garde in reflecting the evolution of ways of living, in techniques and style. The models were to be mass-produced, similar to Christofle’s classic collections and created in silver-plate of the same high quality. To avoid increasing production costs, they had to be manufactured without creating new tools. Christofle manufactures its own tools, whose cost significantly affects the pieces’ sale price. This constraint was to have a strong influence on the aesthetic of the collection. The team of the BCM explored and experimented with the factory’s resources using tubes, sheets, and existing tools. The first models of Christofle Contemporain were created by Sitoleux and Paultre. The former liked to match geometric volumes, the latter favored curves. The vase "Orgues" designed by Jacques Sitoleux in 1969, and illustrated in this article, is a perfect example of the high quality of this collection. Having joined l’Ecole Boulle in 1945, he graduated with a specialist diploma in etching and jewelry and practiced etching all his life.
His professional career began in 1952 with the jeweler Mellerio, where he designed jewelry and religious artifacts. He became very close to Albert Bouilhet, with whom he shared a love of life, a sense of humour and a passion for the craft. Curious about everything, an excellent and rigorous draftsman, his sensitivity and his instinct enabled him to
create well-structured pieces in which curves, as he said, “run lovingly”. The draftsman Bernard Yot (b.1944), who joined Christofle in 1964, underwent the same training as Sitoleux, with the same specialization in etching and jewelry. [11] It was his first position and he spent his entire career with the company until his retirement in 2006, with a break of three years between 1968 and 1971. He was replaced in April 1968 by François Paultre (b.1944), hired after leaving l’Ecole Boulle, his specialty being wood carving.[13] The following year he joined the Bureau d’Architecture et de Création leaving Christofle in 1972, for a career in jewelry design. Jean-Pierre Hamard (b.1941), whose speciality was steel engraving, also trained at Boulle, where he was in the same class as Yot. He was hired by Christofle in 1969 as a three-dimensional layout artist in goldsmithing, before becoming Sitoleux’s assistant in 1983. That year he left to lead design at the porcelain manufacturer Bernardaud. In this way, a team of young men who all began their professional lives trained by the Ecole Boulle, gathered around Sitoleux.

 

AUTHENTICITY                     We guarantee the authenticity of all items to be as represented.

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Please do not attempt to return an item due to shipping damage. Should it occur in spite of our careful packaging, this must be handled through the shipping agent with an insurance claimed with the insurance company. Always be sure to retain all original packaging if a claim is to be made, as the shipping agent may request to examine it.

 

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