EGYPTIAN DANCER

Historical and artistic context

This sculpture depicts an Egyptian dancer captured in a dynamic, theatrical pose, her arms dramatically outstretched and her torso slightly arched. The artist seizes a moment within a stylized, exotic choreography, where the balance of lines and bodily tension evokes the world of performance and stagecraft.

Carved from finely polished white marble, the work emphasizes the supple anatomy of the female figure as well as the refinement of its details: flowing drapery, beaded adornments, an ornate headband, and delicately sculpted textile fringe. The dancer’s hair is concealed beneath a fitted veil, accentuating the graceful line of the neck and the proud carriage of the head.

She stands atop a base of warm-toned onyx, whose rich hues contrast with the whiteness of the marble and enhance the luminous sensuality of the composition. The engraved inscription “A. Gory – Paris” confirms the work’s origin.

This type of sculpture aligns with the Orientalist taste that flourished in Paris during the Belle Époque, when visions of harems, dancers, and Mediterranean cultures captivated collectors. Affortunato Gory, an Italo-French artist active during the 1900s–1920s, specialized in this genre, often combining marble, alabaster, and gilt bronze in his work.

While numerous patinated or gilt bronze editions of this composition were produced—typically smaller and decorative in purpose—this white marble version on onyx base is without question the finest known interpretation. Through its exceptional execution, the complexity of the pose, and the refinement of its detail, it represents the pinnacle of Gory’s Orientalist repertoire and stands out as a rare and ambitious sculptural achievement.

Literature

• ARWAS, V. Art Deco Sculpture. Academy  Editions, Great Britain, 1992. p. 104-105 & p. 236.

• CATLEY, B. Art Deco and other Figures. 2e éd. Antique Collector’s Club, Spain, 2003. p. 168-170.

• KJELLBERG, P. Les Bronzes du XIXe Siècle, Dictionnaire des sculpteurs. Les éditions de l’amateur, Paris, 1989. p. 363-364.

• PANZETTA, A. Nuovo Dizionario degli Scultori Italiani dell’Ottocento e del primo Novecento, 3^e éd. Umberto Allemandi & C., Italy, 2003. Vol.1. p. 441 & 488.