Sculpture in the round in carved wood, representing a “seated bulldog”, directly carved, by the sculptor Nicot, Louis-Henri (1878-1944).
Mahogany wood sculpture.
Fully developed in three dimensions, the sculpture is intended to be viewed from all angles.
Hollow signature of the sculptor “L.NICOT”, and stamp of the publisher “EDITION SAS Paris” (Société des Artistes de Salon) on the edge of the base.
This Bulldog was made in the 1930th century, during the Art Deco period, circa XNUMX, at a time when Louis Henri Nicot was already a recognized artist exhibiting at the Paris Salon.

SAS Paris Edition (Société des Artistes de Salon), was founded by the artists (sculptors) themselves who exhibited at the Salon des Artistes and published their works in editions.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, these wooden sculptures were exhibited at the Salon and sometimes produced in small editions.
Artists such as Adnet, Sandoz, Privat, de Canto de Maya, the Martel brothers, Emile Just Bachelet and of course Louis-Henri Nicot, were all part of the SAS Paris Edition.
Today, these wooden sculptures, usually made of mahogany or rosewood, are highly sought after by collectors.
The quality of the sculpture is very high and the editions are very small, making the works quite rare.
They are often included in the collections of Museums.

Nicot. Louis-Henri (1878-1944)

Louis Henri Nicot, famous French sculptor, born in Rennes on February 12, 1878 and died on July 12, 1944 in Paris.

He began his artistic education at the École des Beaux-Arts in Rennes with Coquelin, Lenoir, Ronsin, before joining the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1899.
He trained in the workshop of Alexandre Falguière, then of Antonin Mercié.
These years of training meant that he remained very attached to academic and classical formulas throughout his career, while associating them with a certain modernity.
He completed his studies in 1909.

He will take up the position of professor at the Olivier-de-Serres School of Applied Arts in Paris.

Very quickly, the Breton theme appeared in his work.
After the 1914-1918 war, LH Nicot became one of the major Breton sculptors.
He created numerous ceramics with Breton themes, including “The Three Gossips”, “Leonard with the Calf”, “The Chicken Seller”, “The Sailor’s Wish” (around 1930), published by the earthenware maker “Henriot de Quimper”.
He also sculpted the busts of “Admiral Émile Guépratte” and “Charles Le Goffic”, as well as numerous monuments to soldiers who died for France.
Several of his works are kept at the Musée Départemental Breton in Quimper.

Regular exhibitions, numerous busts, steles and commemorative works, a continuous presence at the Salon des Artistes Français recognized by a gold medal in 1933, the official recognition of a title of Knight of the Legion of Honor the same year, all contribute to making Louis-Henri Nicot an artist who is both recognized and consensual.

Analyzing the work of Louis-Henri Nicot, the art critic Gallus writes, in
February 1933:
"Through hard work he came to know all the secrets of his trade, to tame the material, whether marble, bronze, granite, wood, earthenware, knowing admirably how to adapt it to the subject treated."

It was between 1920 and 1935 that his talent was confirmed and he achieved his greatest successes and rewards.
In 1925, during the Decorative Arts Exhibition, he was chosen by Emmanuel de Thubert, director of the magazine "La Douce France", to create with other artists a grandiose and aesthetic composition on the esplanade of the Invalides, "La Pergola de la Douce France".
Among the sculptors who agreed to come together to realize the generous dream of their inspiration and personify the characteristics of French genius, we can cite: Costa, Hilbert, Lamourdedieu, Manès, Martel, Nicot, Pompon and Ossip Zadkine.

The artist died in 1944, while preparing the publication of new works.
The city of Rennes has named a street “Louis-Henri Nicot”.