THE DANCER

Historical and artistic context

“The Dancer”, an enchanting piece in the Art Deco style by the artist Affortunato Gory, is a striking sculpture fashioned from white Carrara marble and accented with gilded bronze. At a height of 52 cm, this sculpture exhibits remarkable finesse, perfectly encapsulating the essence of the dance form it represents. The dancer, poised in a moment of fluid grace, is adorned with a dress and short hair decorated with small flowers, elements typical of the Art Deco period, reminiscent of the iconic style of Josephine Baker. The use of Carrara marble, universally esteemed as one of the most prestigious materials for sculpture, enhances the subtlety and intricacy of this stunning piece, making it a true testament to Gory’s talent and the Art Deco period.

The sculpture rests on a base of “Portor” marble, a precious and extremely rare black marble quarried in Italy since antiquity. It was a favored material for decorating imperial villas in Roman times and later adorned prestigious chateaus in Belgium, France, and Switzerland during the 18th and 19th centuries. In the 20th century, Portoro marble continued its tradition of luxury by embellishing elegant Art Deco style furniture and fireplaces.

Literature

• KJELLBERG, P. Bronzes of the 19th Century. Atglen: Schiffer Publishing, 1994, p. 364.
• PANZETTA, A. Nuovo Dizionario degli Scultori Italiani dell’Ottocento e del primo Novecento, 3rd ed. Italy: Umberto Allemandi & C., 2003, Vol. 1, pp. 441 and 488.