Romanian sculptor Demetre Chiparus — who is sometimes referred to as Dumitru Chiparus or Dimitri Chiparus — was a renowned Art Deco-era artist most often associated with realism. He initially created sculptures that featured small children. As his work began to mature, he continued to create figurative sculptures but shifted his focus, and his output was marked by an appreciation for the lithe female form — a popular subject during the 1920s. Chiparus was later known for his animal sculptures, too.
Chiparus lived comfortably as an artist owing in part to his family fortune. At the age of 23, he moved to Italy and began his formal art and sculpting studies under Italian sculptor Raffaello Romanelli. Following his time in Italy, he moved to Paris where he attended L'École des Beaux-Arts. He studied under sculptors Antonin Mercie and Jean Boucher. He was inspired by the Russian Ballet, French theater and early motion pictures.
Though he wouldn’t sell many of his pieces during his lifetime, Chiparus was well known for his bright and colorful busts and sculptures featuring dancing ladies. He was equally inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb — a common influence for designers and artists of the Art Deco era — which is obvious in his references to Egyptian themes in his decorative objects and other realist works.
Chiparus worked with a combination of ivory and bronze to create chryselephantine sculptures, a method and type of sculpture that was particularly popular during the Archaic period. The bases of his pieces were typically made of marble or onyx and he adorned his life-like subjects with vibrant enamel that lent a touch of whimsicality to his art.
Chiparus exhibited his works at the Salon of 1914 and lived in Paris until his death. A range of his sculptures is held in the permanent collection of the Museo Art Nouveau and Art Deco in Spain.
Find original Demetre Chiparus decorative objects, sculptures and other works on 1stDibs.
20th Century French Sculpture 'The Hunter' by D Chiparus
By Demetre Chiparus
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Very striking 20th Century French Art Deco spelter sculpture 'The Hunter', bearing the signature D Chiparus. Dating to around the 1930s, the sculpture is mo...
Spelter
French Art Deco Bronze Hunter and Panther Sculpture Signed Lemoine
By Lemoine
Located in North Bergen, NJ
French Art Deco hunter and panther. Bronze figures sitting on green onyx marble and portoro marble.
Marble
$11,179
H 11.03 in W 23.63 in D 7.09 in
Large Expressive French Art Déco Sculpture Panther with Cobra by Felix Guis
Located in Köln, NW
Large expressive, naturalistic Art Déco sculpture "panther with cobra" by Felix Guis, 1930s. Signed by the artist F.Guis. The artist Felix Guis ( 1887 to 1972 ), born in Tunesia ha...
Terracotta, Plaster
$8,002 / item
H 23.43 in W 11.42 in D 6.11 in
Large Art Deco Panther Sculpture, Bronze, Signed, France, 1930s Design
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Large Art Deco Panther During the Art Deco era, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, numerous sculptures, including panther sculptures, were crafted from various materials, notably ...
Bronze
$3,236
H 7.09 in W 20.87 in D 6.3 in
Art Deco Panther Sculpture, Solid Bronze, Signed, France circa 1930
By Emile Gregoire 1
Located in Regensburg, DE
Signed high-quality heavy Art Deco Bronze Sculpture of an eating Big Cat, (Panther or Lioness) from France about 1930. Signed: "Grégoire" (on side of the leg). Material: Solid Bronz...
Marble, Bronze
Art Deco Panther Sculpture by H. Gual France 1930
By H. Gual
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco panther sculpture signed by H. Gual. Patinated Art Metal on a hand carved Belgian Black marble base. France 1930.
Marble, Metal
$12,356
H 9.06 in W 24.02 in D 3.55 in
Art Deco bronze panther sculpture by Georges Lavroff, numbered, 1935.
By Georges Lavroff
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco bronze panther sculpture by Georges Lavroff. Signed G. Lavroff in the bronze, Stamped number, 9133. Patinated bronze on a Belgian Black marble base. France 1935. This pa...
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
French Art Deco Bronze Panther by Robert
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
French Art Deco Bronze signed H. Robert, two playing panthers, France, 1930s. Very large, very heavy (about 30kg). On marble base. We offer d...
Marble, Bronze
$12,950
H 11 in W 23.5 in D 7.3 in
1930s French Art Deco sculpture ’’Border Panther with Cobra'' by Felix Gui
Located in North Miami, FL
1930s French Art Deco sculpture ’’Border Panther with Cobra'' by Felix Gui. It is signed on the base by the artist. The sculpture of a panther stepping on a cobra is made of terracotta and covered with plaster. Relatively little is known about Felix Guis other than the handful of famous sculptures...
Terracotta, Plaster
Art Deco Panther Sculpture by D.H. Chiparus
Located in Houston, TX
"PANTHER" Sculpture covered in a cold patina. c.1930 Rests on marble base. Inscribed in script: D. H. Chiparus. Cold patina was very popular in the Art Deco period. The metal: bronze, spelter, etc. would be covered with chemicals to create the brownish tone. Usually ammonium chlorite and cupric chloride was used to achieve the desirable tone. Since the finish was quite fragile and could wear off...
Metal
