The floor sculpture/fountain “Fish with Raised Tail” by Henri Fernandez represents a significant example of French production from the 1970s. This is a period in which design tended to move beyond the traditional boundaries between furniture, sculpture and decorative object. Fernandez in fact developed a highly recognizable language, characterized by the use of organic forms, worked metal surfaces and references to the natural world reinterpreted in a scenographic key.
In this work, the subject of the fish is transformed into a dynamic and almost monumental presence. The slender figure, with its tail extending upwards, in fact introduces a strong verticality, while the stylized body emphasizes the movement and balance of the composition. However, the naturalistic element is never described realistically: on the contrary, Fernandez simplifies the forms and enhances the material, giving the whole a decorative and theatrical character.
Moreover, the combination of gilt and patinated brass accentuates the contrast between light and surface, creating reflections that change depending on the point of view. The fountain function further contributes to making the work an immersive object, designed to interact with the surrounding space through movement, light and water.
On the other hand, works such as this reflect the sophisticated taste of French interiors of the 1970s, in which furnishings and sculptures became central elements of the environment. Overall, “Fish with Raised Tail” therefore stands as a creation capable of combining formal research, craftsmanship and strong scenic impact, coherently with Henri Fernandez’s decorative poetics.
Description: Floor sculpture/fountain in gilt and patinated brass, Sculpture H cm 140 – Base H cm 91 – Fountain diameter cm 92.
Publications: Original postcard.
Hammer Price: € 3.720,00
Auction 35 – January 30th 2020 – Design and 20th Century Decorative Art
All works by Henri Fernandez presented in auction
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