IMAGE DETAILS

unforget Decorative Arts

Line Vautrin (Paris, 1913-1997)
Crète de coq mirror, circa 1965
Talosel inlaid with mirror fragments
H 50 x W 41.5 cm
Diameter at sight of the central witch: 10 cm
This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by the Line Vautrin Committee

“Crète de Coq”, mirror in black Talosel inlaid with mirror fragments, by Line Vautrin. This convex “witch mirror” features a radiant decoration of incised Talosel inlaid with polychrome mirror tesserae in shades of red, gold, copper, and silver. The spiral composition evokes the bristling energy and dynamic movement of a cockscomb, its form at once organic and architectural.

A rare and technically demanding creation, Crète de Coq exemplifies Vautrin’s experimental mastery of Talosel - a material she both discovered and transformed into a medium of pure artistic expression. In this piece, she chose a warm palette of reds, oranges, golden ambers, and bronzed tones, creating a striking contrast with the deep black of the Talosel structure. The frame itself unfolds in six spiraling curves, each extending into a series of radiant, gently curved points that seem to shimmer and vibrate with light.

Singular within her oeuvre, this asymmetrical spiral composition differs from Vautrin’s more familiar series, revealing her ability to reinvent form and rhythm through subtle variations. Crète de Coq is not merely a mirror, but a luminous, poetic sculpture - an enchanting testament to Line Vautrin’s imagination and her genius for turning humble materials into magical, living art.