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.
$199Sale Price|43% Off
Franklin Mint the House of Erte Porcelain Plate "Flame of Love". Circa 1990s
By Erté
Located in Miami, FL
Franklin Mint the House of Erte Collectors Porcelain Plate "Flame of Love". Circa 1990s Features an image of the homonym artwork by Ertè created in 1984...
Porcelain
$199Sale Price|37% Off
Franklin Mint The House of Erte Porcelain Plate "The Beauty and the Beast"
By Erté
Located in Miami, FL
Franklin Mint the House of Erte Collectors Porcelain Plate "The Beauty and The Beast". Circa 1990s Features an image of the homonym artwork by Ertè created in 1984 and it is enhanced...
Porcelain
Richard Ginori Bone China Plate Porcelain, 1990, Italy
By Richard Ginori
Located in Milano, IT
Richard Ginori bone China plate porcelain, 1990, Italy.
Porcelain
Porcelain Constantinople 1 Plate
By Les Ottomans
Located in Milan, IT
This exquisite porcelain plate is part of the Constantinople collection made of six different designs with only 100 pieces each. Every plate was made by master artisans and has a whi...
Porcelain
English Porcelain Plate, Coalport, circa 1800
Located in New York, NY
In the "Dragon in Compartment" pattern.
Porcelain
$107 / item
H 0.79 in Dm 10.63 in
Ode to the Woods, Contemporary Porcelain Dinner Plate with Rabbit and Flowers
By Francesca Colombo
Located in MILAN, IT
A white taled rabbit, a typical animal of the woods is gently painted on this dinner plate, with soft black tones and it is surrounded by a delicate and intriguing mix of wild flower...
Porcelain
$95 / item
H 0.79 in Dm 10.63 in
Ode to the Woods, Contemporary Porcelain Dessert Plate with Bear and Flowers
By Francesca Colombo
Located in MILAN, IT
A black bear, a typical animal of the woods is gently painted on this dinner plate, with soft black tones and it is surrounded by a delicate and intriguing mix of wild flowers and le...
Porcelain
Malachite Porcelain Plates, Set of 4
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful set of four (4) porcelain appetizer, bread, dessert plates, etc., with a green faux-malachite design, circa late-20th century, 1980s, '90s. These porcelain plates depict ...
Porcelain
Porcelain Constantinople 5 Plate
By Les Ottomans
Located in Milan, IT
Inspired by the lavished elegance of the Ottoman empire, this porcelain plate is part of a limited series of 100 pieces and six different designs, each paying homage to an aspect of ...
Porcelain
Set of 11 English Minton Porcelain Plates, circa 1880
By Minton
Located in New York, NY
Each depicting a marine scene with shells and corals, with a gilt rim. Signed William Mussill.
Porcelain
Circa 1815 Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain Armorial Dessert Plates
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1815 Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain for the American Market Armorial Dessert Plates. From one of two services made for Joseph Smith of Philadelphia (1770-1845), a prosperous ...
Porcelain
Set of 8 Porcelain Allegorical Scene Plates
By Royal Vienna Porcelain
Located in Norwood, NJ
An elaborate set of 8 Continental porcelain hand painted cabinet plates with cobalt and gold borders. The plates measure 10.88 inches in diameter and depict 8 different allegorical s...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$4,950 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.25 in
Fornasetti Milano 'Fiori' Pattern Porcelain Plates, Set of Twelve, circa 1965
By Fornasetti
Located in Kinderhook, NY
An incredibly rare set of 12 large porcelain dinner plates in the 'Fiori' pattern designed by Piero Fornasetti and produced by Fornasetti - Milano, circa 1965. There are two plates o...
Porcelain
$815Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.82 in W 10.24 in D 5.91 in
1980s Porcelain Sculpture of a Japanese Woman, Manufactured by the Franklin MInt
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Porcelain sculpture of a Japanese woman, manufactured by The Franklin Mint Limited and numbered edition no M 7256, as title Empress of The Snow.
Porcelain
Franklin Mint The House of Erte Porcelain Plate "Diva II". Circa 1990s
By Erté
Located in Miami, FL
Franklin Mint The House of Erte Collectors Porcelain Plate "Diva II". Circa 1990s Features an image of the homonym artwork by Ertè created in 1984 and it is enhanced by gilded decora...
Porcelain
Signed Erte Etched & Enameled Glass Sculpture, Female Baccante
By Erté
Located in Kingston, NY
Romain Erte De Tirtoff/Erté (Russian/French, 1892-1990), circa 1980's. Etched and enameled glass sculpture of a baccante, on steel base. Signed, Erté and numbered 16/95, lower right....
Glass
Erté Courvoisier Cognac Liquor Cabinet
By Erté
Located in New Orleans, LA
The Erté Courvoisier Cognac collection was created by one of the great masters of Art Deco and fashion illustration, Erté (aka Romain de Tirtoff), in collaboration with one of the mo...
Glass, Wood
Erte Decorative Plate 'Carnation'
By Sevenarts Ltd., Erté
Located in Astoria, NY
Signed Erte (Romain de Tirtoff 1892-1990) porcelain plate titled 'Carnation.' Features a young woman with her hair piled high and bright pink carnation accessories. The plate is sign...
Porcelain