Serge Mouille Twin-Arm Appliques/Wall Lights, circa 1953
About the Item
- Creator:Serge Mouille (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)Width: 38.1 in (96.78 cm)Depth: 52.7 in (133.86 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1953
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU99856873883
Serge Mouille
Instantly recognizable by their long slender armatures and domed, ovoid shades, the best-known floor lamps and other lighting fixtures of Serge Mouille have become emblems of the organic design of the mid-20th century. Along with Jean Prouvé, Mathieu Matégot and others, Mouille brought a fresh, modern aesthetic to metalwork, one of the most tradition-bound mediums in the decorative arts.
Mouille (pronounced: MWEE) was born to a working Parisian family. At age 15, he took up studies in the metalworking atelier of that École des Arts Appliqués, under the tutelage of the goldsmith and sculptor Gabriel Lacroix. After graduating, in 1941, Mouille worked in Lacroix’s studio and began teaching at his alma mater four years later.
In the early 1950s, bothered by the preponderance of new Italian lamps and chandeliers on the market and consumed with the belief that fixtures by Gino Sarfatti and others were unnecessarily complex, Mouille opened a lighting-design workshop. He quickly won commissions from several French schools and libraries. In 1956, the influential Paris gallerist Steph Simon — who also promoted Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand and Isamu Noguchi — began to show Mouille designs, introducing his work to private collectors. Mouille would continue making handcrafted lighting fixtures at a slow but steady pace until 1964, when he stopped working to begin a long course of treatment for tuberculosis. When it was completed, Mouille returned to teaching at the École des Arts Appliqués for the remainder of his career.
With the biomorphic shades and long armatures of his fixtures, Mouille created one of the most engaging and idiosyncratic lighting aesthetics of his time. Though often described as “insect-like,” his pieces have more in common with the fluid, buoyant forms in the paintings of Jean Arp. (Mouille designed several cylindrical or columnar lamps; though highly collectible, those are interesting outliers in his body of work.)
As with Prouvé’s folded metal forms and Matégot’s perforated steel, Mouille brought a novel lightness and energy to metal furnishings. Since Mouille’s designs found renewed popularity in the early 2000s, licensed re-editions of his pieces are being produced. The disparity in price between vintage and current-day Mouille pieces is great. Older works — identification tip: the interior white reflective enameling has a yellowish cast — cost $20,000 to $40,000, and newer pieces go for 10 to 20 percent less than that. As you will see on these pages, Serge Mouille created icons of 20th century design — at once sleek, suave and friendly — that belong in any modern decor.
Find vintage Serge Mouille table lamps, chandeliers and other lighting on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Paris, France
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- '70s Roger Tallon Bronze Wall PlaqueBy Roger TallonLocated in Paris, FRA bronze square wall plaque, made with 49 pieces with rectangular, square and circular motifs.Category
Vintage 1970s French Wall-mounted Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- 21st Century Louis Durot "Spirale" Armchair in polyurethaneBy Louis DurotLocated in Paris, FRArmchair in lacquer, signed by Louis Durot.Category
2010s French Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLacquer, Plastic
- Maqbool Fida Husain PaintingBy Maqbool Fida HusainLocated in Paris, FR1968 Gouache on paper Private collection.Category
Vintage 1960s Indian Modern Prints
MaterialsGouache
- "Plante Carnivor" Armchair, Louis Durot, 1970By Louis DurotLocated in Paris, FRArmchair in polyuréthane Lacqued in red, green and black Signed and dated.Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Armchairs
MaterialsPolyurethane
- Untitled, 2006 Maqbool Fida HusainBy Maqbool Fida HusainLocated in Paris, FRFelt on paper Private collection.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Paintings and Screens
MaterialsFelt, Paper
- "Chardon" Line Vautrin Red Mirror 20th CenthuryBy Line VautrinLocated in Paris, FRCirca 1950. Talosel (resin) mirror with inlaid pieces of red mirrors Signed "Line Vautrin " on the reverse.Category
Vintage 1960s French Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsTalosel, Mirror
- Serge Mouille Pair of Wall LightsBy Serge MouilleLocated in New York, NYSerge Mouille, Circa 1950 Pair of Serge Mouille Appliques, in sculpted and painted metal.. Provenance: upon request.Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal
- Original Serge Mouille One Arm Wall LightBy Serge MouilleLocated in Hamburg, DEAn original one-arm wall lamp, black metal, designed by Serge Mouille, France, in 1954. Matt black outside, sconce white semi mat inside. Measures: Vertical arm 51cm x Horizontal arm including scone 127cm. Sconce L 23cm x W 23cm x H 15cm. The round wall holder allows rotation. Provenance Alexandre Biaggi...Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass, Steel, Aluminum
- Serge Mouille Appliqué Model "Monthiers"By Serge MouilleLocated in London, GBHugemongous appliqué model "Monthiers." Height 2800 mm arm length 2700 mm. Max width 5400 mm. Serge Mouille designed this model in 1963 for his house. Only produced...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsPaint
- Original Vintage Serge Mouille Two-Arm Wall LightBy Serge MouilleLocated in Hamburg, DERare, original Serge Mouille angled wall lamp with two pivoting arms. "Lampadaire" style shade on one and "Casquette" on the other, 1954. Enameled steel, enameled aluminum and brass...Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsAluminum, Brass, Steel
- Serge Mouille Applique Model "One Rotating Curved Arm" Black or WhiteBy Serge MouilleLocated in London, GBSerge Mouille Also know has sconce one rotating curved arm Serge Mouille, 1953.Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal
- Sconce Serge Mouille Applique Model "One Rotating Arm with two Rotule"By Serge MouilleLocated in London, GBThe rotule is the "Brainchild" of Serge Mouille. This entitled the cable to be hidden and also give the reflector the option to become an uplighter or an downlighter.Category
Mid-20th Century French Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsAluminum