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Demetre Chiparus Art

Romanian, 1888-1950

Romanian sculptor Demetre Chiparus — who is sometimes referred to as Dumitru Chiparus or Dimitri Chiparus — was a renowned Art Deco-era artist most often associated with realism. He initially created sculptures that featured small children. As his work began to mature, he continued to create figurative sculptures but shifted his focus, and his output was marked by an appreciation for the lithe female form — a popular subject during the 1920s. Chiparus was later known for his animal sculptures, too.

Chiparus lived comfortably as an artist owing in part to his family fortune. At the age of 23, he moved to Italy and began his formal art and sculpting studies under Italian sculptor Raffaello Romanelli. Following his time in Italy, he moved to Paris where he attended L'École des Beaux-Arts. He studied under sculptors Antonin Mercie and Jean Boucher. He was inspired by the Russian Ballet, French theater and early motion pictures. 

Though he wouldn’t sell many of his pieces during his lifetime, Chiparus was well known for his bright and colorful busts and sculptures featuring dancing ladies. He was equally inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb — a common influence for designers and artists of the Art Deco era — which is obvious in his references to Egyptian themes in his decorative objects and other realist works. 

Chiparus worked with a combination of ivory and bronze to create chryselephantine sculptures, a method and type of sculpture that was particularly popular during the Archaic period. The bases of his pieces were typically made of marble or onyx and he adorned his life-like subjects with vibrant enamel that lent a touch of whimsicality to his art.

Chiparus exhibited his works at the Salon of 1914 and lived in Paris until his death. A range of his sculptures is held in the permanent collection of the Museo Art Nouveau and Art Deco in Spain. 

Find original Demetre Chiparus decorative objects, sculptures and other works on 1stDibs.

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Artist: Demetre Chiparus
Demetre Chiparus Egyptian Dancer
Demetre Chiparus Egyptian Dancer

Demetre Chiparus Egyptian Dancer

By Demetre Chiparus

Located in Miami, FL

Demetre Chiparus Egyptian Dancer, ca. 1920 Bronze, enamel, gilt metal, and marble 29 in Signed to base 'Chiparus'

Category

1920s Art Deco Demetre Chiparus Art

Materials

Bronze

Oriental Dancer
Oriental Dancer

Oriental Dancer

By Demetre Chiparus

Located in Miami, FL

Oriental Dancer Cold-painted Bronze Figure, circa 1925 on a shaped marble plinth inset with bronze medallions 15 in high, signed to base 'Chiparus' Demetre Chiparus was a Romanian s...

Category

1920s Art Deco Demetre Chiparus Art

Materials

Bronze

Demetre Chiparus, The Clown's Dream
Demetre Chiparus, The Clown's Dream

Demetre Chiparus, The Clown's Dream

By Demetre Chiparus

Located in Miami, FL

Demetre Chiparus The Clown's Dream, ca. 1930 Bronze and marble 29 in Signed "Chiparus" and "J. Gazan" Provenance: Estate of Arlene Winnick, Beverly Hills, California.

Category

1920s Art Deco Demetre Chiparus Art

Materials

Marble, Bronze

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Previously Available Items
Portrait of Julienne Lullier
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Portrait of the artist’s wife. Demetre Haralamb Chiparus (also known as Dumitru Chiparus) (16 September 1886 in Dorohoi, Romania - 22 January 1947 in Paris, France) was a Romanian Art Deco* era sculptor who lived and worked in Paris. He was born in Romania, the son of Haralamb and Saveta. In 1909 he went to Italy, where he attended the classes of Italian sculptor Raffaello Romanelli. In 1912 he traveled to Paris to attend the Ecole des Beaux Arts* to pursue his art at the classes of Antonin Mercie and Jean Boucher. Demetre Chiparus died in 1947 and was buried in Bagneux cemetery, just south of Paris. The first sculptures of Chiparus were created in the realistic style and were exhibited at the Salon of 1914. He employed the combination of bronze and ivory, called chryselephantine*, to great effect. Most of his renowned works were made between 1914 and 1933. The first series of sculptures manufactured by Chiparus were the series of the children. The mature style of Chiparus took shape beginning in the 1920s. His sculptures are remarkable for their bright and outstanding decorative effect. Dancers of the Russian Ballet, French theatre, and early motion pictures were among his more notable subjects and were typified by a long, slender, stylized appearance. His work was influenced by an interest in Egypt, after Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb was excavated. He worked primarily with the Edmond Etling and Cie Foundry in Paris administrated by Julien Dreyfus. Les Neveux de J. Lehmann was the second foundry which constantly worked with Chiparus and produced the sculptures of his models. Chiparus rarely exhibited at the Salon. In 1923 he showed his Javelin Thrower, and in 1928 exhibited his Ta-Keo dancer. During the period of Nazi persecution and the World War II, the foundries discontinued production of work by Chiparus. The economic situation of that time was not favorable to the development of decorative arts and circumstances for many sculptors worsened. Since the early 1940s almost no works of Chiparus were sold, but he continued sculpting for his own pleasure, depicting animals in the Art Deco style. At the 1942 Paris Salon, the plaster sculptures Polar Bear...

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1930s Art Deco Demetre Chiparus Art

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DEMETRE CHIPARUS BRONZE, SIGNED WITH PSEUDONYM DARCLES FRANCE, C.1930 11.5 X 30.75 INCHES Demetre Chiparus created many of his sculptures in plasterline and sold them to the foundaries who then paid him commissions for how many they sold, therefore many sculptures are unsigned or signed differently as in the case with this model signed Darcles. Other known pseudonym for Chiparus are Darcourt and Audin. Demetre Chiparus 1888-1950 Demetre Haralamb Chiparus (also known as Dumitru Chiparus) (16 September 1886 in Dorohoi, Romania - 22 January 1947 in Paris, France) was a Romanian Art Deco* era sculptor who lived and worked in Paris. He was born in Romania, the son of Haralamb and Saveta. In 1909 he went to Italy, where he attended the classes of Italian sculptor Raffaello Romanelli. In 1912 he traveled to Paris to attend the Ecole des Beaux Arts to pursue his art at the classes of Antonin Mercie and Jean Boucher. Demetre Chiparus died in 1947 and was buried in Bagneux cemetery, just south of Paris. The first sculptures of Chiparus were created in the realistic style and were exhibited at the Salon of 1914. He employed the combination of bronze and ivory, called chryselephantine, to great effect. Most of his renowned works were made between 1914 and 1933. The first series of sculptures manufactured by Chiparus were the series of the children. The mature style of Chiparus took shape beginning in the 1920s. His sculptures are remarkable for their bright and outstanding decorative effect. Dancers of the Russian Ballet, French theatre, and early motion pictures were among his more notable subjects and were typified by a long, slender, stylized appearance. His work was influenced by an interest in Egypt, after Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb was excavated. He worked primarily with the Edmond Etling and Cie Foundry in Paris administrated by Julien Dreyfus. Les Neveux de J. Lehmann was the second foundry which constantly worked with Chiparus and produced the sculptures of his models. Chiparus rarely exhibited at the Salon. In 1923 he showed his Javelin Thrower, and in 1928 exhibited his Ta-Keo dancer. During the period of Nazi persecution and the World War II, the foundries discontinued production of work by Chiparus. The economic situation of that time was not favorable to the development of decorative arts and circumstances for many sculptors worsened. Since the early 1940s almost no works of Chiparus were sold, but he continued sculpting for his own pleasure, depicting animals in the Art Deco style. At the 1942 Paris Salon, the plaster sculptures Polar Bear and American Bison were exhibited, and in 1943 he showed a marble Polar Bear and plaster Pelican. Sculptures of Dimitri Chiparus...

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1920s Art Deco Demetre Chiparus Art

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Bronze

woman
woman

Demetre Chiparuswoman

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A rare sculpture made of clay by Demeter Chiparus, representing a sit nude woman. Signed on the sculpture. On a wood basement. Demétre Haralamb Chiparus...

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Wheat  Art Deco  by Demetre Chiparus
Wheat  Art Deco  by Demetre Chiparus

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Demetre Chiparus art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Demetre Chiparus art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Demetre Chiparus in bronze, metal and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1930s and is mostly associated with the Art Deco style. Not every interior allows for large Demetre Chiparus art, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Curtis Jeré, and Stefan Traloc. Demetre Chiparus art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,950 and tops out at $2,950, while the average work can sell for $2,950.

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