Rating and value of works, mirrors by Line Vautrin

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Artist's rating and value

A major artist of 20th-century decorative art, Line Vautrin stands out for her bold style, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. On the art market, Line Vautrin's creations are highly appreciated.

His mirrors are his most sought-after works and the most popular in auction rooms. Her "witch", "sequin" and "sun" models are the most sought-after and best-selling.

Indeed, their prices can reach hundreds of thousands of euros: one of his mirrors sold for €390,000 in 2022.

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

Style and technique of Line Vautrin's creations

Line Vautrin has established herself as a designer with a deeply original style, blending audacity and refinement.

Her works, whether precious jewels, enchanting mirrors or intriguing decorative objects, reflect a constant search for harmony between poetry and aesthetics.

Working with materials as varied as gilded bronze, lacquer and resin, she demonstrates impressive technical mastery.

His major invention, "talosel", embodies his innovative spirit: this material, the result of meticulous superimposing and sculpting of resin, allows for creations with rich motifs, sublimated by vibrant light effects. This innovation quickly became the hallmark of his work and established his reputation.

Among his most emblematic creations are his so-called "witch" mirrors, whose irregular contours and convex surfaces capture and distort light, lending each piece an almost magical aura.

These works illustrate his rejection of conventional forms in favor of organic lines, often inspired by nature or the imagination.

True to her love of literature, she frequently incorporates words, maxims or fragments of poetry into her creations, lending them narrative depth.

In this way, each piece becomes not only an object of art, but also a medium for reflection and emotion.  

Line Vautrin refuses to conform to established trends, preferring to freely explore new avenues, combining craftsmanship and experimentation.

His work reflects an ongoing quest for elegance and uniqueness, marked by a meticulous attention to detail and boundless creativity.

Innovative and deeply personal, his approach never ceases to push back the boundaries between art and craft, inscribing his creations in a temporality that is both contemporary and timeless.

The life of Line Vautrin

Line Vautrin was born in 1913 into a family of metalworkers. Growing up, she developed a passion for working with materials, but it was without any artistic training that she began creating her first jewels at the age of 21.

This young self-taught artist's instinctive creativity was soon noticed.

In 1937, she took part in the World's Fair, where her jewelry won acclaim for its originality and refinement. This recognition launched her career.

The following year, she opened a boutique on the Champs-Élysées, where her creations attracted a clientele in search of elegance and singularity.

Line Vautrin is an explorer of materials and techniques. She works in lacquer, gilded bronze and experiments with resin.

His most striking invention, "talosel", a colored resin applied to a variety of supports, gives rise to works with geometric patterns and fascinating optical effects.

This innovation became his signature, notably in his highly successful "witch" mirrors. 

In the 1940s and 1950s, she expanded her world by creating decorative objects such as boxes, frames and trays. These pieces, often adorned with words or maxims, reflect her taste for poetry and detail.

Line Vautrin succeeds in blending functionality and art with an elegance all her own. Her style, both timeless and daring, reflects her refusal of convention and her constant quest for innovation.

Retired from the art scene in the 1980s, she was rediscovered by collector David Gill, who revived interest in her work. In 1992, she was awarded the Prix national des métiers d'art, crowning a rich and original career.

Line Vautrin died in 1997 at the age of 84, leaving behind a remarkable artistic legacy.

A self-taught visionary, she has blazed a unique trail, ignoring trends and fashions to create a deeply personal universe. Her jewelry and objets d'art continue to fascinate and captivate with their elegance and inventiveness.

Focus on Ombre et lumière, Line Vautrin

One of Line Vautrin's emblematic creations, the convex mirror entitled Ombre et Lumière, perfectly illustrates her bold, inventive approach.

Made from talosel, a material she developed in the 1950s, the frame of the work is composed of sculpted fragments, superimposed and engraved, creating a subtle interplay of textures and reliefs.

These hand-patinated elements oscillate between warm, deep hues, recalling shifting shadows and flashes of light.

The mirror itself, with its curved surface, distorts and magnifies the image it reflects. This technical choice lends the object an aura of mystery and invites the viewer into a unique visual experience, where the perception of space is altered.

True to her approach, Line Vautrin goes beyond the simple decorative function to transform this mirror into a full-fledged work of art, imbued with poetry.

The organic, almost irregular shapes of the frame reflect his rejection of convention and his commitment to a free, personal aesthetic.

Often dubbed "witch mirrors" for their ability to bewitch the eye, these creations reveal the artist's meticulous attention to detail and fascination with the play of light.

The kaleidoscopic effect produced by the reflective surface enhances the environments in which these mirrors are placed, while adding a touch of magic.

With Ombre et Lumière, Line Vautrin offers us a work in which matter and form converse with the imaginary, demonstrating once again her ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

This mirror embodies the very essence of his art: a constant quest for innovation, combined with a deep respect for beauty.

The success of Line Vautrin's works on the auction market

The success of Line Vautrin's work on the art market is the result of a recognition that has gradually gained ground, then intensified over the years.

From the late 1930s onwards, she attracted the attention of collectors, particularly at the 1937 World's Fair, where her jewelry was enthusiastically received. But it was not until the 1980s, after a period of retreat, that her work was truly rediscovered.

Collectors, especially those in London, rediscovered her creations and placed her at the center of attention. Her "witch" mirrors and talosel jewelry became must-have pieces, coveted as much for their rarity as for their originality.

These works, which are both decorative and artistic, are distinguished by their advanced aesthetic research, attention to detail and innovative use of materials.

The technique she invented, talosel, became her signature and was much admired, as were her pieces with their organic shapes and poetic inscriptions.

Auctions bear witness to this, with prices for his works climbing, confirming the growing interest they arouse among art lovers. This success is also due to the timelessness of his creations.

Line Vautrin doesn't follow passing trends; she forges her own style, rooted in a quest for authenticity and poetry.

Her pieces fit into a world of their own, yet are rooted in a specific era. They have stood the test of time without losing their force, and today, her works continue to attract collectors from all over the world, confirming the legacy of a designer of unique genius.

Like other 20th-century artists who produced similar objects, such as Jean Cocteau, Mithé Espelt or even Alice ColonieuToday, her works are highly prized at auction.

His signature

Not all Line Vautrin's works are signed.

Although there are variations, here is a first example of its signature: