'Les Roseaux', a rare and monumental illuminating sculpture, circa 1900

Acclaimed for his large scale public sculptures, the noted Art Nouveau sculptor François-Raoul Larche is today perhaps best known for his three bronze figural table lamps featuring the American dancer Loïe Fuller, which were produced by the leading Parisian foundry Siot-Decauville. The current lot is of a far larger scale and the model is illustrated in a period Siot-Decauville catalogue which details that it was available in two sizes, one approximately 73 cm. high and the other variant approximately 160 cm. high, as shown here, which could also be electrified for lighting. Whilst three examples of the smaller version have sold at international auctions since 1991, no other large-scale version of this work is currently documented. Bronze figural works of this scale and calibre from the Art Nouveau period are exceptionally rare.