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.
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.
Marble, Bronze
$6,750
H 20 in W 4.25 in D 4.25 in
Pair of Porphyry Marble Columns with Gilt Bronze Capitals, 19th Century
Located in Beachwood, OH
Pair of Porphyry Marble Columns with Gilt Bronze Capitals, 19th Century Porphyry marble & gilt bronze 20 x 4.25 x 4.25 inches Porphyry is an igneous rock, not marble, known for its...
Marble, Bronze
$4,671
H 10.24 in W 10.63 in D 11.42 in
1920s Italian Signed Bronze Sculpture
By Elisabetta Mayo D’Aloisio
Located in Roma, IT
Bronze on a marble base It bears Mayo's signature. Trademark Fondart - Lagana Napoli. “Of the first sculpture, a group of highly vigorous original artistry, all that remains is Ada...
Marble, Bronze
Harvester Inkwell
By Bruno Zach
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A dramatic early 20th century Austrian Art Deco bronze Inkwell of a muscular male holding a scythe with one arm and wiping his brow with the other. The bronze has a rich dark brown p...
Marble, Bronze
$5,606
H 16.15 in W 17.92 in D 7.88 in
Peacock Brass and Agate Sculpture on Black Marble Base Attributed to Willy Daro
Located in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This amazing sculpture figures a peacock making the wheel. Each feather is made of a slice of transparent agate, soldered with brass to the rest of the wheel. The agate wheel is me...
Marble, Brass
$18,000
H 45 in W 26 in D 14 in
Oh, by John Reeves, rotating, bronze, sculpture, shape shift, granite, edition
By John Reeves
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Oh, by John Reeves, rotating, bronze, sculpture, shape shift, granite, edition Oh, John Reeves rotating, bronze, sculpture, shape shift, granite, edition Oh, rotating bronze sculpt...
Granite, Bronze
$2,200
H 3.75 in W 2 in D 1 in
Rare Brutalist Mexican Sculpture Pendant Surrealist Stone Necklace Pal Kepenyes
By Pal Kepenyes
Located in Surfside, FL
Chain is 23.5 inches long. Pendant is 3.75 X 2 X 1 inches This piece is not signed. but the chain matches completely with the signed one that I have. Pal Kepenyes is a sculptor and ...
Stone, Bronze
$7,500
H 5.5 in W 5 in D 5 in
Abstract Geometric, small abstract bronze, dark brown patina, life cast, marble
By Allan Houser
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Abstract Geometric, small abstract bronze, dark brown patina, life cast, marble limited edition Allan Houser (Haozous), Chiricahua Apache (1914-1994) Selec...
Marble, Bronze
$2,255
H 27 in W 13 in D 6 in
Soaring High, Oxidised Bronze over Stone Composite Granite Base "In Stock"
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Divyendu Anand - Soaring High Oxidised Bronze over Stone Composite Granite Base, Edition of 9 H 27 x W 13 x D 6 inches, 2025 Growing up with the thoughts of altruism, idealism and b...
Stone, Granite, Copper, Bronze
Italian Pietra Dura 'Marmi Romani' specimen marble plaque
Located in Milan, IT
Precious plaque containing examples of fine and rare different marbles used in Rome.
Marble
$20,222
H 28.15 in W 22.05 in D 9.45 in
Becoming-Sculpture, Abstract, Marble, Italian Carrara, contemporary, statement
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Becoming is a contemporary abstract sculpture, hand-carved from Italian Carrara marble. British sculptor Ian Thomson possesses the skill and expertise requ...
Marble
$2,465
H 33 in W 24 in D 14 in
Piscine, Patinated Bronze, Oxidised Bronze Stone Composite Granite "In Stock"
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Divyendu Anand - Piscine, 2023 Patinated Bronze, Oxidised Bronze over Stone Composite Granite Base Edition 1 of 5 H 33 x W 24 x D 14 inches Growing up with the thoughts of altruism,...
Stone, Granite, Bronze
$26,377
H 14 in W 61 in D 25.5 in
Noumenon-Contemporary, Carrara Marble, Sculpture, Ian Thomson, inspiration
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Introducing "Noumenon" — a captivating sculpture crafted from premium Carrara marble, renowned for its luminous quality and timeless elegance. This piece embodies the artist's profou...
Marble