Henri Navarre (1885 – 1970) French Metalworker

Henri Navarre (1885 – 1970) was a French sculptor, architect, silversmith, and glassmaker. He was born in Paris. 

Education

He served apprenticeships in architecture, goldsmithing, and silver-smithing. He studied wood carving at the École Bernard Palissy and stained glass and mosaics Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers, both in Paris.

Biography

He created a number of large sculptures and carvings for buildings. He started making curved, thick-walled glass jars with inside ornamentation in 1924 under the influence of Maurice Marinot. He developed his glassworks in association with André Thuret. He completed a gilded reredos in 1927 for the chapel of the ocean liner Île-de-France, which was built in 1926. 

Style

With its masterly manipulation of trapped air bubbles, Navarre’s work is influenced by Maurice Marinot. Navarre displayed his glass at Galerie Edgar Brandt and Maison Geo Rouard.

Navarre exhibited his first vases at Edgar Brant’s shop but soon signed a contract to exhibit at the Maison Geo Rouard. Working with the heavy, thick-walled glass, he favoured plain simple shapes with internal decoration, which he achieved by the use of metal oxides patterned on the marver onto which the parison was rolled before it was encased in an outer layer.

Recognition

At the 1925 Paris ‘Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes,’ he executed the frieze on the Monumental Gate. He designed the Grille of Honor of the Colonial Museum at the 1931 Paris ‘Exposition Coloniale.’ Exhibiting in Brussels, Cairo, Stockholm, Oslo, Athens, and New York, he also showed his work at the Salons of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Salons d ‘Automne, and Salons of the Societe des Artistes Decorateurs. 

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

My Bonhams. Bonhams. https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22582/lot/83/.

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