A French Art Nouveau Wooden Pedestal by Emile Gallé

A French Art Nouveau selette by Émile Gallé. Gallé made very few selettes of this quality and design during his career, and even fewer of those with curved lower pieces that reunite in the middle, culminating in a gorgeous flower in full bloom. This model is very similar to the famous version with banana leaves, called Bananie. The marquetry on the top and middle sections of the selette, depicting flowers and leaves, is extremely bright and detailed. The variations of color emphasize the differences between the brighter lilies of the valley and the darker background. The curves and flowing details of the wood carving surrounding the top shelf come to challenge the stricter straight lines used for the contour of the piece. The balance between curves and straight line work in perfect harmony and together underline the subject matter. A similar selette is pictured in: Gallé Furniture, by Alastair Duncan and Georges de Bartha, Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collectors' Club, 2012, p. 245, plates 4 & 4a.