Top Hats

Name: Top Hats
Brand: Erté
Price: 5,850.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Erté

Medium: bronze wall sculpture

Signature: 'Erté' signature stamp

Framed size: 24.75 x 21"

$5,850.00

Details

Medium: bronze wall sculpture
Edition: 462

Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 1"
Framed size: 24.75 x 21"

Signature: 'Erté' signature stamp

Reference:

Erté The Last Works

Literature:

Lee, M. Erté: The Last Works. Dutton Studio Books, 1991. pg. 127.

About the Work

"Top Hats" is a bronze wall sculpture created by Erté. From the edition of 462, the bronze is stamped with the artists signature. The sculptures dimensions are 16 x 21 x 1" and is framed in a contemporary, black frame. The sculpture ships framed and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Based on the November 1933 cover of Harper's Bazaar. The image reflected a new sense of style as compared to Erté's earlier works. The decade of the 1930's saw dramatic changes in men's fashion. It began with the Wall Street crash of October 24, 1929. By 1931, eight million people were out of work in the United States. After the crash, Erte, like many others, lost everything due to the shrinking garment industry. Tailors responded to the change in consumer circumstances by offering more moderately priced styles. This beautiful bronze sculpture was inspired by a serigraph created in 1975, entitled "Top Hats".

The bronze sculpture/casting medium and process is, and has always played, a fascinating part in the history of art, admired by civilization for thousands of years and continuously developed with modern technology. Erté sculpture exemplifies the timeless beauty of this intriguing art form and manifests the artist’s personal unique flair in every bronze creation.

About the Artist

Erté (1892–1990), widely regarded as the “Father of Art Deco,” brought glamour and refinement to fashion, stage, film, and design. After moving to Paris at 20, he worked with couturier Paul Poiret before launching an extraordinary career as illustrator, designer, and artist. His iconic Harper’s Bazar covers defined Deco elegance, while his theatrical costumes and Hollywood sets elevated modern spectacle.
Rediscovered in the 1960s, Erté saw The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquire an entire exhibition of his gouaches in 1967, cementing his place in the canon. From the 1970s onward, he expanded into limited-edition serigraphs and bronze sculpture—innovative works often incorporating embossing, metallic foil, and dramatic grounds.
Today, his creations are held in major museums worldwide and remain highly sought-after, celebrated for their timeless synthesis of geometry, luxury, and theatrical flair.

Top Hats

$5,850.00

SELECTED WORK

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