LOUIS-AUGUSTE THEODORE-RIVIERE – “LA POMME D’OR”, CIRCA 1900

“LA POMME D’OR”, CIRCA 1900
Original sculpture of a figure representing Eve, carved in ivory, set in a sculpted mahogany tree, a snake applied in enameled silver
Signed on the wooden base
37.5 cm. high

To the best of our knowledge, three works by Théodore-Rivière incorporated enamel by René Lalique among which “La brodeuse arabe” or “La brodeuse tunisienne” from 1897, and a Cambodian dancer. Therefore, it is very likely that our piece was enameled by Lalique as well.

Bibliography
Colette Dumas, Théodore Rivière, sa vie, son œuvre, 1998, ill. page 89, n. 102

Provenance
Private collection of Louis-Auguste Théodore-Rivière
Théodore-Rivière sale, Hôtel Drouot, room 10, 1st December 1909, lot 36

The Musée d’Orsay keeps in its archives the sales record established by Jean (Théodore) Rivière. It comprises 45 lots originating directly from the studio of the artist, among which bronze sculptures in large part, without any of them being cast, thus unique; two or three marbles, two terracottas and two ivory sculptures, one of them being “La Pomme d’Or”. A few works were bought in, and the total of the sale reached 15.251 francs. Two lots reached the highest bid of 1.500 francs, lot 32: “Néron”; turquin blue marble, unique artwork, 36 cm. high; and lot 36: “La Pomme d’Or”, described as “statuette ivoire, serpent argenté émaillé, sur bois des îles socle marbre, hauteur moyenne 40 cent”.