Liane Rougier, table lamp

Liane ROUGIER for MAISON ROUGIER Significant table lamp "Shell", circa 1970-1975. Moulded pearlescent acrylic (methacrylate), opaline acrylic diffuser, patinated brass and black lacquered metal base. A significant table lamp featuring a tridacna-type shell, composed of two large valves in moulded pearlescent methacrylate with realistically sculpted ribs. At the centre, a hemispherical diffuser in opaline acrylic conceals the light source and evokes a pearl. The whole rests on a square base in black lacquered metal edged with brass. The iridescent methacrylate delicately reflects the hues of natural mother-of-pearl. Analysis and commentary: In the 1970s, Liane ROUGIER created for MAISON ROUGIER a series of luminaires emblematic of organic design. Her work is based on the innovative use of pearlescent methacrylate (Plexiglas), whose optical properties mimic mother-of-pearl while offering great formal freedom. This "Shell" model, the most iconic of the house, transposes the shape of a font into a sculptural language where light becomes matter. The work is part of the Hollywood Regency movement, popular in the 1970s for its spectacular forms and marine or mineral motifs. At the intersection of lighting and sculpture, this sought-after piece is now among the most highly valued creations of MAISON ROUGIER in the 20th-century design market.