Gilbert POILLERAT (1902-1988), attributed to - Lot 166

Gilbert POILLERAT (1902-1988), attributed to Pair of wrought iron consoles, the openwork belt, resting on four tapered legs joined by a crossed strut, black marble top. Around 1945. 81 x 129 x 37 cm After attending the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Gilbert Poillerat attended the Ecole Boulle and then devoted himself to his passion, ironwork. Trained by Edgar Brandt, he anonymously contributed to the creations he presented at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. He participated individually in the Salon d'Automne of 1928 and met with great success. He regularly collaborates with other artists such as Jacques Adnet, André Arbus, or Jean Pascaud. Recognized for his monumental projects (the doors of the Palais de Chaillot, the grills and lights of the Eiffel Tower restaurant), he also became a reference in decorative furniture. Through his unique style, technical perfection and the quality of his materials, he remains one of the most important French creators of 20th century ironwork, regularly honored at public auctions. Our consoles were commissioned by Paul MORIHIEN (1917 -), secretary and editor of Jean Cocteau (1889-1963). He published "sous le manteau" in 1943, with the collaboration of Robert Denoël, Notre-Dame des Fleurs by Jean Genet. He created his publishing house in 1946; main editor of Jean Cocteau during the seven years of existence of the company, he published: La Crucifixion (1946), La Difficulté d'être (1947), and Théâtre de poche (1949) which he distributed in his bookshop-gallery, under the arcades of the Palais-Royal. Nearly twenty-five other works of very high quality were published, including Carnets de Don Juan (1947) by Marcel Jouhandeau, Réflexions sur la question juive (1946) by Jean-Paul Sartre, Querelle de Brest (1947), and L'Enfant criminel (1949) by Jean Genet. These consoles were installed in the Palais Royal bookstore-gallery at 11 bis, rue Beaujolais, Paris 1er, and were custom-made by Gilbert Poillerat for his friend Paul Morihien. The archive photos presented in this catalog show Paul Morihien surrounded by Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais.