On Thursday January 28th, 2021, PIASA is organising an auction dedicated to French Design from the 1920s to the 1970s. The auction will be organised around 175 lots including both emblematic pieces by renowned designers and a wide range of rarer pieces such as this exceptional "warrior" sculpture by designer Raphael Giarrusso.
Originally from Canada, Raphael Giarrusso (1926-1986) studied art at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. In 1948, he obtained a scholarship that allowed him to move to Paris where he practiced painting. In 1953, however, he gave up this pursuit and joined the Poterie d'Accolay pottery group in the Yonne, a community of potters founded by four former students of ceramist Alexandre Kostanda : André Boutaud, Louis Dangon, Slavic Paley and Raude. He worked there as a decorator for about ten years.
However, at the end of his collaboration, Giarrusso returned to painting and participated in the Salon d'art moderne du Grand Prix de Paris in 1961. Then, in 1963, he decided to open his own studio in Vermenton as a ceramist/sculptor. He produces numerous clay sculptures inspired by the animal world (bull, buffalo, wild boar, owls, ...) and medieval characters.
Raphaël Giarrusso (1926-1986)
Sculpture
Estimate: 12000 / 18000 €
Both a floor lamp and a decorative object, this exceptional " Warrior " sculpture by Raphaël Giarrusso (1926-1986) will be one of the highlights of this French design auction. It is human-sized (185 cm high) and is estimated between 12,000 and 18,000 euros.
Always tinged with humour and poetry, Rapahel Giarrusso's bestiary and warriors were a great success at the many Salons d'Ateliers d'Art de Paris (now Salon Maison & Objet), in which the artist participated throughout his career.
