François-Raoul Larche was born in 1860 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac. He was a French Art Nouveau sculptor whose work included several figures of Christ, but who may be better known for his numerous female figures.
He was one of several artists inspired by the dancer Loie Fuller. One of his best-known statues depicts Fuller dancing with part of her drapery billowing above and behind her head like a flame.
Another well-known sculpture, Les Violettes, depicts a group of nude children with an older girl who may be their mother or older sister. Their bodies are entwined with flower stems and leaves and they are all wearing petal bonnets, suggesting that they are meant to represent the spirits of flowers. He died in Paris in 1912. Reference: Wikipedia
Below are some examples and price guides of some Art Nouveau items by François-Raoul Larche including an example of his maker’s mark and and a figure entitled “Les Violettes”.
François-Raoul Larche Maker’s Mark
FRANÇOIS-RAOUL LARCHE French 1860 – 1912 LES VIOLETTES signed RAOUL LARCHE, stamped with foundry mark SIOT PARIS and number U605 gilt bronze, on veined green marble base
Les Violettes was originally commissioned by the French government in marble and Larche first exhibited the group at the Paris Salon of 1899 and the following year at the Exposition Universelle. The group is similar in style to the Loïe Fuller lamps, and epitomises Larche’s interest in the fluid forms of Art Nouveau.
Sold for 11,250 USD at Sotheby’s in
Gilt-bronze figural lamp, François-Raoul Larche (French, 1860-1912); ‘Loïe Fuller’ a Gilt-bronze Figural Lamp signed in cast, circa 1900 depicting the famous performer in dramatically swirling windswept robes; signed in cast ‘RAOUL LARCHE’ and ‘SIOT-PARIS’ for the foundary; with indistinct impressed number 33cm high.
Sold for £18,750 at Bonham’s in 2017
Le sourire (The smile) signed ‘RAOUL LARCHE’ bronze, gilt 18 ½ in. (47 cm.) high This bronze circa 1900.
Sold for GBP 6,000 at Christie’s in 2019
French gilt bronze figural table flower basket depicting children pushing and pulling the basket, inscribed Raoul Larch Siot-Paris foundry mark edition number 418 on bottom
Sold for $6,000 at Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in 2021
A French Art Nouveau patinated and parcel gilt cast bronze table lamp by Francois Raoul-Larche decorated with a green and yellow Daum Nancy carved art glass stalactite shade set within an ornately decorated parcel gilt and patinated bronze lamp base. The shade is signed “Daum Nancy” and the base is signed “R. Larche”. c. 1900.
Sold for $3,750 at Dan Morphy Auctions in 2020
