"The Archer"

Stunning, original Art Deco bronze of a male archer by the well known French sculptor, Pierre Le Faguays. Condition is very good. Verde green finish over bronze patina. Slight rubbed wear consistent with age to the patina finish. Circa 1930. Signed in the base. Provenance: Estate of Harry Coulianos, former art director of GQ magazine.

Pierre Le Faguays (French, 1892 ~ 1962) Faguays was born in Nantes, France and became famous for the originality he gave his dancers, many of which were inspired by the statues of Tanagra. He gained a medal of honour for his work in 1927. He was a best friend of Max Le Verrier and the Le Verrier foundry produced many of his pieces. He used 2 pseudonyms as well as his own name and they were Fayral and Guerbe. Which were the family names of his Mother and his Wife. He was a leading sculptor and his work is frequently praised for its high quality and attention to anatomical accuracy. He also produced designs for Goldscheider in Paris under the “La Stele” label. 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 indeed the Le Verrier foundry produced many of the Le Faguays statues. All three had studied together at the Beaux Arts in Geneva and remained life-long friends.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Pierre le Faguays was born in 1892 in Nantes Paris, France.

Pierre le Faguays was a French sculptor of lithe female figures, monuments, ceramics and figurative lamps working in Art Deco style, Pierre Le Faguays captured public attention with his early exhibitions of exuberant dancing figures, inspired by the statues of Tanagra, a community north of Athens known for mass produced terracotta figurines.

It is thought that, he also used the pseudonym of both Raymond Guerbe and Fayrel, which is reinforced by the similarities of subject matter and style.

Le Faguays was a native of Nantes, France. He studied at the Paris Salon and in Geneva, Switzerland, and was a member of the Salon, La Stele and Evolution groups. His mediums included ivory, wood, stone and bronze. In 1927, he was awarded the French Medal of Honor.

He was a leading sculptor and his work is frequently praised for its high quality and attention to anatomical accuracy. He also produced designs for Goldscheider in Paris under the "La Stele" label. 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 indeed the Le Verrier foundry produced many of the Le Faguays statues. All three had studied together at the Beaux Arts in Geneva and remained life-long friends.

There is also discrepancy about his death date, given as 1925, 1935 and 1962. A biography of Papillon Gallery indicates that Le Faguays "exhibited in 1937 in Paris at L'Exposition Internationale." Assuming this participation to be true, that would make the death date of 1962 the likely one. Pierre le Faguays probably died on the 8th of September in 1962, in Paris.