Claire Jeanne Roberte Colinet – Chryselephantine figure

An Art Deco chryselephantine statue, partly gilded bronze and partly ivory. The dancer stands with one leg on a pedestal and holds her arms spread in the air, and raises one leg back.
The gilded bronze dress is patinated by hand in different colors. Her head, arms, legs and part of her abdomen are carved from ivory. The statue is signed on the bronze pedestal with Cl.J. R. Colinet. This image clearly shows that the artist was influenced by the movement of Orientalism.

About Claire Jeanne Roberte Colinet (1880-1950)
She was born in Brussels in 1880 and around 1910 she moved to Paris where she further developed her skills in sculpting under the guidance of Jef Lambeaux. She exhibited for the first time in 1913 at the Salon des Artistes in Paris, where she had to survive in a man’s world as one of the few female artists. Because of her talent, she became a permanent member of the Salon des Artistes organization in 1929. From 1937 to 1940 she exhibited at the Salon des Independents in Paris and became a member of the Union of Women Painters and Sculptors.

She became famous for portraying dancers in the art deco style, and her models included exotic dancers and cabaret artists. Some of Colinet’s images were influenced by the Orientalism movement that was popular at the end of the 19th century, but also became a theme in art deco among various artists, such as Chiparus.
Her work is highly valued by collectors and high prices are sometimes paid for her work. Her “Ankara Dancer” from 1930 sold at Christies for $285,984.

Literature
Bryan Catley, Art deco and Other Figures, Woodbridge, 2003