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.
Vintage Erté “Moonlight” Porcelain Collector Plate, Art Deco, 1988
By Erté
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A vintage porcelain collector plate featuring “Moonlight” by celebrated Art Deco artist Erté. Produced in Germany in 1988, this elegant decorative plate showcases one of Erté’s iconi...
Porcelain
Gustavsberg Argenta Plate, Swedish Art Deco
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Gustavsberg Argenta plate, Swedish Art Deco. Stoneware plate with silver inlay, circa 1930s, Sweden. Free shipping within the United States and...
Antique Coalport English Porcelain Neoclassical Plate
By Coalport Porcelain
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine English Neoclassical porcelain plate. By Coalport. Decorated throughout with alternating red and blue geometric patterns, gil...
Porcelain
$645 / set
H 0.5 in Dm 8.5 in
Set of Six Art Deco Pressed Glass & Jade Porcelain Dessert Plates by Moser
By Moser
Located in New York, NY
This extraordinary set of six Art Deco dessert plates, crafted by Moser in the Czech Republic circa 1900, exemplifies unparalleled elegance and 20th-century design ingenuity. Each pl...
Porcelain, Glass
L. Bernardaud & Co. Porcelain Dinner Plates, 11
Located in Astoria, NY
Set of Eleven L. Bernardaud and Company Porcelain Dinner Plates, all marked "B&Co. / France / L. Bernardaud & Co. / Limoges" to undersides. 10.5" Diameter x 1.25" H. Provenance: Fr...
Porcelain
$2,400 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.6 in
16 Minton England Dinner Plates, Vintage Gold Encrusted "Porcelain Ball"
By Minton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A classic and elegant set of 16 dinner plates by Minton, England. Crisp white porcelain with a double gilt encrusted band with 24 karat additional gold floral design in their collars...
Gold
Porcelain Dinner Plate - Butterfly, Insect Collection
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Step into the charm of an English garden with our porcelain plates, adorned with delicate hand-appliqué design of a butterfly. Perfect as enchanting tableware to elevate your dining ...
Porcelain
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Gold Adam Porcelain Plates, Set of Twelve
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
The Forbidden Fruit: Complete Set of 12 'Adam' Gold Porcelain Plates Piero Fornasetti, Circa 1970s This complete and captivating set of twelve Piero Fornasetti "Adam" porcelain plat...
Porcelain
Plate for Warming Baby’s Food Vintage Porcelain & Brass Plate, 1960
Located in Bastogne, BE
Vintage Plate for Warming Baby Food. Brass, porcelain. 1960’s. Hot water is poured into the hole and heats and maintains the temperature of the baby food. In excellent co...
Brass
Fine Chinese Export Porcelain Plate
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is a plate from China, it has been made late 19th century, very nice colors, black, brown blue. It is a canton plate.
Porcelain
$94 / set
H 7.88 in Dm 7.88 in
Rosenthal Dessert Plates Vintage Plates with Floral Pattern German Porcelain
By Rosenthal
Located in Bastogne, BE
Beautiful dessert plates of the finest white porcelain from the famous manufactory Rosenthal. Germany. The price per set of 3 plates. Plates have embossed edge surface and ...
Porcelain
Antique / Vintage German Art Deco Plates 1920-1930 Waechtersbach Germany
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Waechtersbach. Art Deco 1920s-1930s plates. Serving dish Overall condition A++ (Good). Some minor chips and frits to base rim. Ø 33 cm.
Earthenware
Limoges Porcelain Plates, 6
By Limoges
Located in Astoria, NY
Set of Six Limoges Porcelain Plates, with gilt and red painted geometric and foliate design, impressed "A" to underside. 9" Diameter. Provenance: From an East 74th Street Estate.
Porcelain
Erte Decorative Plate 'Carnation'
By Erté, Sevenarts Ltd.
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