Model No: 1140 Tete de Paon. Created February 1928
It was at the beginning of 1928 that Paris saw the birth of the temple of crazy Parisian nights, jewellery, frills, "feather stuff", all the frills! And this thanks to the immense talent of an architect decorator René BERGER. Another virtuoso who, like René LALIQUE, knew how to tastefully mix colours and artists (like the painter Carlo Cherubini) and who contribute to the magic of a sumptuous Paris.
René LALIQUE here pays homage to this new life by creating this peacock head, a proud and dazzling animal with its colours. Lalique used the peacock often in his art nouveau jewels, here he moved it into a pure Art Deco image, focussed on the head and crest. Not flamboyant but nonetheless a definite and regal presence. A masterpiece.
This mascot, one of the favourites of all knowledgeable collectors, is also one of the most characteristic of the LALIQUE art; the pretentious personality of the bird is indeed captured perfectly, down to the smallest detail, right down to the slightly aquiline beak.
Height: 17.7cm
Clear (white) glass and Blue (colour) examples are catalogued and exist. Press molded. Marcilhac notes opalescent as a colour option but no examples are known to exist. One Topaz (fume) example known to exist.
Price (1932 Lalique et Cie Catalogue): 320FF (clear), 350FF (colour)
Breves of Knightsbridge, London UK titled this model ’Peacock’ and listed a price of £4/4/0 ‘unilluminated' or £5/5/0 ‘for light’ using the patented Breves illuminated mount. A bulb was 3/s and Duty was 10/6.
Other names for this mascot - Tete de Paon, Tete d’Paon, Paon, Peacock Head, Peacock’s Head, Peacock, Aigrette, Egret. Mascotte, Hood Ornament, Car Mascot, Bouchon de Radiateur, Radiator Cap.
Appeared in 1928 and 1932 Lalique Catalogue. Removed from 1937 Catalogue (though available as book-ends at this time and also a paperweight).
No known reissue in crystal post 1947, not marketed today. In 2006 the modern Lalique company reissued the model in various colours including cobalt blue and black. These were recreations in crystal and without the molded R. Lalique signature.