Rating and value of sculptures, bronzes and drawings by Charles Malfray

If you own a work by or after Charles Malfray, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will be happy to offer you their appraisal services.

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Rating and value of Charles Malfray's works       

Charles Malfray produced unique sculptures. Now, prices for his creations can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer. His sculptures are particularly prized by buyers from all over the world.

The price at which they are selling on the art market ranges from €10 to €20,000 at the moment, a considerable difference but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to the works of Charles Malfray, whose output is very abundant.

In 2015, his bronze sculpture Femme assise aux bras levés, sold for €15,000, originally estimated at €3,000-4,000.

The upside potential for Charles Malfray's works on the auction market is therefore quite significant. Animal sculpture, particularly in bronze, has been very successful of late, setting auction records.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of artist Charles Malfray

Charles Malfray is a sculptor who combines technique and emotion in his artistic approach. His work is distinguished by an in-depth exploration of materials, notably marble, stone and bronze, although the latter has always been his preferred medium.

He not only left his mark on monumental sculpture, but also produced drawings - often preparatory sketches - that reflect his creative process and his reflection on form.

His work, particularly influenced by the expression of movement and inner energy, is part of a stylistic search subtly balanced between tradition and modernity.

Indeed, Malfray was inspired by ancient and medieval statuary, while bringing a contemporary interpretation marked by a unique expressiveness and refined forms. His art evokes the legacy of masters such as Bourdelle and Rodin, while creating an aesthetic all his own, marked by an almost palpable sensitivity.

His sculptures, often centered on human figures, are imbued with a dramatic tension that expresses both the strength and fragility of existence.

Each work is carefully crafted, and each detail carries a strong emotional charge, reflecting a deeply human artistic vision.

Through masterful minimalism, Malfray succeeds in extracting the very essence of his subjects, offering works that captivate with their sobriety and symbolic power.

Stylistically, Charles Malfray follows in the footsteps of several influential artists of modern sculpture, while developing his own personal aesthetic.

He became close toAntoine Bourdellewhose powerful, expressive approach to form resonates with Malfray's own. Both succeed in translating profound emotions through harmonious volumes and timeless elegance.

Auguste Rodin is also a key reference for Malfray, particularly in his ability to capture the vitality and complexity of human figures.

While Rodin often plays on drama and theatricality, Malfray takes a more introspective and delicate approach, focusing on the intimacy of gesture. 

Aristide Maillolwith his pared-down sculptural language and simplified forms, also finds an echo in Malfray's work. Both artists share a sensibility for fluid lines and a representation of the body that combines strength and gentleness.

The influence of Joseph Bernard is palpable, as both Malfray and Bernard seek to extract the essence of their subjects through stylized forms, where beauty lies in simplicity.

Charles Malfray stands at the crossroads of these major influences, creating a unique style that, while inspired by tradition, transcends convention to establish a profound connection with the human experience.

Charles Malfray's career

Charles Malfray (1887-1940), French sculptor, was born in Orléans. After initial artistic training locally, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under the great masters of sculpture.

His talent was soon recognized, and he received several awards, including the prestigious Blumenthal Prize in 1919, which enabled him to pursue his artistic quest in complete freedom.

It was in his studio, as part of the École de Paris, that he developed his own artistic language, combining classical tradition with modern audacity.

By the 1920s, he had established himself as a leading figure in French sculpture, exhibiting regularly at the Salon des Artistes français and at the Tuileries.

His works, marked by a profound humanity, are distinguished by their expressive power and technical mastery, often inspired by the dramas of the First World War, in which he participated as a soldier.

In 1937, at the Paris International Exhibition, Malfray was awarded a gold medal, reinforcing his reputation with the public and art critics alike. His influence extended beyond France, with exhibitions abroad making him a respected figure in the art world.

Parallel to his career, Malfray became a teacher at the Académie Ranson, where he passed on his know-how and artistic vision to the younger generation.

Committed and passionate, he continued to create until his premature death in 1940, leaving behind him an artistic legacy marked by the depth and power of his sculptures.

Les archives d'Orléans - back to Malfray

Malfray's way of working

At the beginning of the 20th century, as artistic and historical upheavals multiplied, Charles Malfray was part of a dynamic revival of sculpture, where artists sought to reinvent forms and express a new sensibility.

Influenced by both the classical tradition and the urgency of the modern world, Malfray manages to infuse his works with a rare emotional power, marked by the tension between human greatness and fragility.

In this period of transformation, sculpture reinvented itself, and Malfray, like his contemporaries, established himself as an innovator.

His distinctive style, characterized by bold volumes and a perfect mastery of the human anatomy, enables him to capture the very essence of his subjects.

Whether depicting heroic figures or dramatic scenes, his sculptures bear witness to a profound expressiveness and a constant search for inner truth.

A regular exhibitor at the Paris Salons, Malfray distinguished himself particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, a period when French sculpture was enjoying a new lease of life.

His works, imbued with an undeniable emotional intensity, draw on his personal experience of war, bringing a poignant dimension to his creations.

Although Malfray draws inspiration from masters such as Rodin and Bourdelle, he develops his own language, marked by raw expressiveness and a quest for the essential. The materials he uses, such as bronze and stone, reinforce the powerful, tactile character of his works.

His forms, though often stylized, retain a strong connection to reality, reflecting the concerns of his time, between tragedy and hope.

Through his art, Charles Malfray perfectly illustrates this period when sculpture evolved to explore more intense emotions and a more intimate quest for the human condition, leaving his mark on the history of modern sculpture.

Focus on Femme s'essuyant un pied, Charles Malfray, Centre Pompidou

Femme s'essuyant un pied by Charles Malfray, in the Centre Pompidou, perfectly embodies the simplicity and intensity that characterize his work.

Malfray, with obvious technical mastery, captures here a moment of intimacy stripped of all artifice, where the female figure concentrates on an everyday gesture with moving sobriety.

This bronze sculpture is distinguished by the fluidity of its forms and the precision of its details. The natural posture of the kneeling woman is sculpted with remarkable finesse, each curve of the body reflecting Malfray's ability to capture the very essence of his subject.

The simple realism of the scene in no way detracts from the emotional depth of the work, where every detail, from the folds of the skin to the harmonious volumes of the body, bears witness to the artist's sensitivity.

Malfray excels at translating the tension between strength and gentleness, and in this work he succeeds in making the tranquility of gesture palpable while maintaining an understated elegance. The clean lines and sculptural volumes create an impression of calm and restraint, reinforcing the intimate aspect of the scene.

The precision of its execution and the serenity it exudes demonstrate Malfray's ability to capture moments of everyday life with a particular sensitivity.

Femme s'essuyant un pied illustrates both the delicacy of the gesture and the beauty of the human body, in a composition that combines sobriety and strength. With this work, Malfray demonstrates his ability to bring his subjects to life, while anchoring them in a timeless modernity. 

Recognizing Charles Malfray's signature

Charles Malfray doesn't always sign his works. If you think you own one, it's best to have it appraised.

Knowing the value of a work 

If you happen to own one of Charles Malfray's creations, or think you might, please feel free to request a free appraisal using the form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your piece, as well as any relevant information about it.

If you want to sell your property, our specialists will also help you find alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.