Born Romain de Tirtoff (1892–1990) in St. Petersburg, Russia, to an aristocratic family, the artist known as Erté — a pseudonym derived from the French pronunciation of his initials — was a Renaissance man of the art and design world. He worked in graphic arts, interior design, fashion, jewelry and set design for the stage and silver screen, becoming a leader of the Art Deco style.
Moving to Paris in 1912, Erté worked as a fashion designer under couturier Paul Poiret before securing a job with Harper’s Bazaar as a cover artist. Over 22 years, Erté created more than 240 magazine covers alongside his ongoing work in fashion design.
Extending his prolific career into theater sets, costumes, prints and lithographs, Erté became one of the most famous artists of the era. His style — a combination of the nature-inspired flourishes of Art Nouveau and bold, geometric linework — directly contributed to the birth of Art Deco, earning him the nickname “the Father of Art Deco.”
After a lull of creative production in the 1940s and 1950s, Erté reentered the public eye in the 1960s, when a renewed interest in Art Deco had taken shape.
Creating colorful lithographs, bold serigraphs (silk-screen prints) and bronze sculptures, he contributed to a resurgence of the style in France and beyond. This late-life acclaim for his art led to exhibitions in museums and galleries all over the world as well as his first published monograph in 1970. That same year he was awarded the title of Chevalier du Mérite Artistique et Cultural and in 1976 was named Officier des Arts et Lettres by the French government.
Today, Erté’s works are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and LACMA in Los Angeles.
On 1stDibs, browse a collection of Erté art, including fine art prints, paintings and other works.
Flute Majestique
By Erté
Located in New York, NY
A pair of remarkably elegant, fine crystal champagne flutes, titled “Flute Majestique,” as designed by the Father of Art Deco - Erté (Romain de Tirtoff), each bearing his etched sig...
Glass
Love's Enchantment Limited edition silver, gold and onyx pearl & diamond brooch
By Erté
Located in New York, NY
Erte Love's Enchantment, ca. 1980 Sterling silver brooch with 14K gold, onyx background and mother of pearl woman's head set with (4) full cut round brilliant diamonds 1 1/2 in diam...
Metal, Gold, Silver
Diva - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Diva II Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This very rare plate was produced for House Of Ertè in fi...
Porcelain
Mystic - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Mystic Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This very rare plate was produced for House Of Ertè in fin...
Porcelain
Glamour - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Glamour Plate is an decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This very rare plate was produced for House Of Ertè in fine porcel...
Porcelain
Directoire - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Directoire Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This very rare plate was produced for House Of Ertè in...
Porcelain
La Merveilleuse - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
La Merveilleuse Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This very rare plate was produced for House Of Ertè...
Porcelain
Twilight - Ceramic Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Twilight Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This plate was produced by Royal Doulton, an English ceramic manufacturing company fo...
Ceramic
Plum Blossom - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Plum Blossom Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This charming and very rare plate was produced for H...
Porcelain
Willow Tree - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Willow Tree Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This beautiful and very rare plate was produced for Hous...
Porcelain
Muller Freres French Art Deco Table Lamp
Located in Miami, FL
Muller Freres Lamp, 1910 Boudoir lamp with roses, Acid-etched cameo glass, and wrought metal 20 x 8 in
Metal
R. Lalique, Acacia Vase
By René Lalique
Located in Miami, FL
R. Lalique Acacia Vase, 1921 Blown molded white glass with opalescent and colored patina 8 in Catalogue Razzone no. 1471
Blown Glass
$2,475
H 18 in W 18 in D 2.5 in
Grove / Contemporary Porcelain Micro Tile Wall Sculpture Installation
By Element Clay Studio
Located in Savannah, GA
“Grove” is a contemporary porcelain wall sculpture installation by Heather Knight, founder of Element Clay Studio (est. 2007), a Savannah-based studio recognized for organic modern c...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$2,550Sale Price|25% Off
H 60 in W 48 in
Synthesism: Solitude 4 - Bold Graffiti Textural Original Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
Water Lilies
By Roy Lichtenstein
Located in New York, NY
Published in 1990 by Rosenthal, Germany, Roy Lichtenstein’s, Water Lilies is an exquisite glazed porcelain charger, brilliantly colored, accompanied by signed certification. Stamp si...
Porcelain, Screen
$3,097
H 12.6 in Dm 9.45 in
Raoul Lachenal Large Crackle Glaze Egyptian Blue French Baluster Ceramic Vase
Located in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This beautiful baluster-shaped vase features the vivid hypnotic Egyptian blue (which some call "turquoise", although it's not) Raoul Lachenal is most renowned for. Drop-shaped white...
Ceramic
$524
H 2.17 in W 15.56 in D 15.56 in
Vintage ~1940s Delft Royal Sphinx Petrus Regout of Maastricht Big Wall Plate
By Otto Eerelman
Located in Riga, LV
Vintage circa 1940s Delft Royal Sphinx Petrus Regout of Maastricht Big Wall Plate. A rare vintage collectible. Hand-painted by a Dutch artist. Plate diameter: 39.5 cm, height: 5.5 cm...
Porcelain
$274Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.91 in Dm 6.3 in
Circlet Art Deco Ceramic Vase, Spring Yellow, Trenton Pottery, 1930s
Located in Bournemouth, Dorset
Streamline moderne or Art Deco, "Circlet" or "Disc" vase designed by G. McStay Jackson for Trenton potteries, an iconic design of their time. Made only from 1935-1942, they were part...
Ceramic
$961
H 7.88 in W 7.88 in D 1.97 in
Penguin C "Ballance" realism wildlife sculpture artwork-contemporary Wall art
By Henk Jan Sanderman
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Porcelain, Canvas, Acrylic
Beliers Vase
By René Lalique
Located in Miami, FL
Rene Lalique (1860-1945) Beliers Vase Glass 1924 Size: 8 x 20 in Literature: Patricia Bayer & Mark Waller. The Art of Rene Lalique. Illustrated on page 149 #273. René Lalique was a...
Glass
$4,680Sale Price|20% Off
H 15 in W 7 in D 7 in
Pair of English Porcelain Vases with Insects from John Mortlock circa 1875
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Pair of Vases with Parcel Gilt Insects England, John Mortlock circa 1875 Porcelain with gold leaf 15 inches The firm of Mortlock began business in 174...
Gold, Enamel
Jaffa Vase
By René Lalique
Located in Miami, FL
Rene Lalique (1860-1945) Jaffa Vase Frosted and polished glass Size: 8 x 12 in René Lalique was a seminal French glass designer known for his Art Nouveau and Art Deco perfume bottle...
Glass
"Fireflies" Diamonds, Sapphire, and Crystal 14k Necklace
By Erté
Located in Austin, TX
Artist: Erte Item: "Fireflies" Diamonds, Sapphire, and Crystal Necklace 61/250 Date: 20th Century Erte 14kt gold pendant depicting a carved crystal profile of a woman with 14kt gold and silver headdress inlaid with diamonds and sapphire. Pendant is set on a 14kt gold chain...
Gold
Sold
H 9.85 in W 9.85 in D 0.79 in
Pour Hélène Martini Plate - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1976
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Pour Hélène Martini Plate is an original decorative porcelain plate realized in 1976. This very rare plate reproduces a sketch on blue background by Er...
Porcelain
Beauty and the Beast - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Beauty and the Beast Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This very rare plate was produced for House Of Ertè in fine porcelain. T...
Porcelain
Athena - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Athena Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This very rare plate was produced for House Of Ertè in fin...
Porcelain
Queen of the Night - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Queen of the Night Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This beautiful and very rare plate was pr...
Porcelain
Fireflies - Porcelain Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Fireflies is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in the 1990s. This plate was produced by Royal Doulton, an English ceramic manufacturing company founded...
Porcelain
Ondee - Ceramic Collector Plate - 1990
By Erté
Located in Roma, IT
Ondee Plate is an original decorative limited edition porcelain plate realized in 1990. This plate was produced by Royal Doulton, an English ceramic manufacturing company founded in...
Ceramic
Le Pigeon
By Erté
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is a unique, original gouache on paper by Erte, also known as Romain de Tirtoff. Erte was a vastly diverse artist who excelled in an array of fields including fashion, jew...
Gouache
All Sails Up
By Erté
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original limited edition bronze hand mirror by Erte (Romain de Tirtoff). A stunning Art Deco- style hand mirror, designed by Erte and cast using the lost wax technique at the Joel Meisner & Co. Foundry. Erte, whose fashion images adorned the pages of Harpers bazaar from 1932-1937, was one of the most prominent French illustrators of the Art deco period. Although he is best know for his fashion illustrations and magazine cover designs, Erte also enjoyed designing and sculpting three-dimensional objects from an early age. Erte explains in his artist’s statement: “Since my boyhood in fashion,theatre and decorative arts,i have designed three-dimensional pieces as a medium of expression and I have always enjoyed sculpting as one of my g=favorite means of expression. This mirror fits perfectly within his stylish aesthetic: The back of the piece is graced with a glamorous woman dressed in the fashion of the 1930’s,wearing draping strands of golden...
Bronze