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Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

Celebrated as the “poetess of metal” by Vogue magazine, designer Line Vautrin’s provocative works, which span furniture and jewelry, are characterized by fanciful forms and technical excellence. An audacious decorative artist and intellectual during a time when women were expected to fall into traditional roles, her inspirational designs show her passion for literature, wordplay and mythological allegory.

Born in 1914, Vautrin possessed a sense of curiosity and keen observational skills that led her to start creating at an early age. A talented autodidact, she taught herself to work with metal while spending time in her family’s bronze foundry. Vautrin had already mastered the skills of casting, carving, gilding and polishing bronze by the time she was in her early teens, and introduced her first line of jewelry when she was only twenty years old, offering her unique brooches, belt clasps and buttons to a select group of customers. In 1937, Vautrin helmed a small booth at the Paris International Exposition, where she gained some notoriety for her handcrafted accessories. Around the same time, Vautrin worked briefly for Elsa Schiaparelli, a like-minded fashion designer whose achievements propelled her onto the cover of Time magazine in 1934.

Vautrin opened a modest boutique near the Champs-Élysées in the late 1930s. During World War II, she created playful and sophisticated necklaces, powder boxes, earrings and other items that gave her clientele a welcome respite from wartime hardships. There was great demand for Vautrin’s work, and she opened a larger shop on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1946. Shortly thereafter, she opened her own atelier in Paris’s then run-down Marais district with her husband, interior decorator Jacques Armand Bonnaud. The neighborhood would later become world-famous for its boutiques and designer shops.

Vautrin’s boundless curiosity led her to constantly experiment with new materials and processes. In 1955, she perfected her technique with a new form of cellulose acetate resin, which she patented under the name Talosel. Vautrin used this material extensively to create complicated mirrored inlays, which became one of her signature motifs.

Throughout her life, Vautrin played with literary and religious iconography in her designs, drawing inspiration from common aphorisms, ancient world mythologies and alchemical principles. Her passion for symbology and the written word is reflected in her work, which often features intricate lettering and carefully rendered shapes and figures. Vautrin's pieces were imbued with her own sense of humor and love of fantasy.

In 1969, Vautrin closed her shop, and, alongside her daughter, Marie-Laure Bonnaud-Vautrin, opened a craft school to teach her innovative techniques to aspiring artists. Vautrin retired in 1980 but continued to create art from her apartment up until her death in 1997. Her individualism earned her a place among the most iconic creators of mid-century jewelry and decorative objects. Actress Brigitte Bardot and fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent became notable collectors of her work.

In 1992, Vautrin was recognized for her work in developing new decorative techniques by the Société d'Encouragement aux Métiers d’Art (later the Institut National des Métiers d’Art). Her designs were also celebrated by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which held a retrospective of her works in 1999.

Find vintage Line Vautrin mirrors, decorative objects and collectibles on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Line Vautrin
Bespoken Large French Bronze "Chatelain" Link Brooch Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large bespoken bronze brooch by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940. Called "chatelaine", this bronze brooch features articulated chain links with hangi...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

French Bronze À La Gloire des Phoques Brooch Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A bespoken bronze brooch by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1946 named "À La Gloire des Phoques" (The glory of the seals). This bronze brooch features a se...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

French Art Bronze Bracelet by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare cuff bracelet in gilded and silvered bronze by Parisian art jewller Line Vautrin (1913-1997). The playful piece is called "Le gendarme et le voleur"...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Articulate Bronze Brooch "Pergatoire" by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A hanging articulate three-piece gilt bronze brooch "Purgatoire" also known as "Le Ciel, la Terre, et l'Enfer." by Line Vautrin. Each element with figure symbolizes Heaven, Earth and...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

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Brooch by Line Vautrin, Black Talosel Encrusted with Red Mirrors
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This Brooch in black Talosel encrusted with red mirrors in the shape of flower petals represents a very characteristic aesthetic of the work of Line Vautrin. This organic shape is d...
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Italian Vintage Crucifix in Bronze and Iron
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20% Off
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Brooch by Line Vautrin, Beige Talosel Encrusted with Violetts Mirrors
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This brooch by Line Vautrin is distinguished by its elegance and refinement, thanks to the inlay of rectangular purple mirrors arranged vertically. This arrangement creates a singula...
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Gilt bronze box by Line Vautrin "The Armenian alphabet'' - 1940
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Very beautiful gilt bronze box or mirrorless compact. This object has two sides with different motifs representing the Armenian alphabet. Patina re-gilded with fine gold. Design: Li...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Brooch by Line Vautrin, Beige Talosel Encrusted with Amber Mirrors
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
This beige Talosel brooch is a unique piece of jewelry that perfectly captures the aesthetic characteristic of Line Vautrin’s work. It is adorned with small amber colored mirrors, which are intricately embedded in the beige Talosel to create a luminous and textured effect that catches the eye. The circular shape of the brooch recalls the organic and natural themes very present in the creations of Line Vautrin, the small square mirrors artistically arranged recall the meticulous attention to detail that Line Vautrin had for her many works. The Talosel has been carefully sculpted by scarification to create perfect harmony with the amber mirrors...
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Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

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Bracelet by Line Vautrin – Beige Talosel Encrusted with Violetts Mirrors
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This beige Talosel bracelet has been meticulously hand-sculpted by scarification to create an organic shape reminiscent of the emblematic creations of Line Vautrin. Each link, there are seven in total, is adorned with purple mirrors subtly embedded in the Talosel to create a very shimmering and luminous effect that perfectly captures Line Vautrin’s poetic aesthetic. The small, irregularly shaped...
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Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

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Striking Antique Austrian Bronze Bust of Christ Crowned w. Thorns by F. Seifert.
By Franz Seifert
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and antique bronze and hard stone(base) sculpture of our Lord Jesus by Franz Seifert, Wien. This breathtaking religious bronze bust sculpture by Austrian master Franz Seifert...
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Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Box Signed
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Line Vautrin gilt bronze box signed.
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1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

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Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Box Signed
Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Box Signed
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French Bronze Link Brooch Line Vautrin
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1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures

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Line Vautrin mobiles and kinetic sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Line Vautrin mobiles and kinetic sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Line Vautrin mobiles and kinetic sculptures, although gold editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original mobiles and kinetic sculptures by Line Vautrin were created in the mid-century modern style in france during the mid-20th century. Prices for Line Vautrin mobiles and kinetic sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,500 and can go as high as $12,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,000.

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