Serge Mouille: Master goldsmith of luminous design

wp:paragraph The lighting designs of French designer Serge Mouille are instantly recognisable. Aficionados of 1950s vintage design are snapping up this designer's unique and exceptional pieces. In just ten years, Serge Mouille has created a timeless style of hand-crafted light sculptures. Before achieving international recognition, Serge Mouille was first and foremost a master craftsman who elevated his metalwork to an art form. A look back at an atypical career, whose lighting creations have become classics of post-war design. The light fittings of French designer Serge Mouille are instantly recognisable. Aficionados of 1950s vintage design are snapping up his unique and exceptional pieces. In just ten years, Serge Mouille has created a timeless style of hand-crafted light sculptures. Before achieving international recognition, Serge Mouille was first and foremost a master craftsman who elevated his metalwork to an art form. A look back at an atypical career, whose luminous creations have become classics of post-war design. /wp:paragraph wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15951, "width":745, "height":414, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} "Spider" ceiling lamp Araignée" ceiling lamp with 5 fixed arms, concept and design: Serge Mouille, 1958 /wp:image wp:paragraph Serge Mouille (1922-1988) was born in Paris. He was not a very studious pupil, but very quickly showed a predisposition for drawing. He was a precocious talent, passing the entrance exam to the École des Arts Appliqués at the age of just 13. He decided to study metallurgy and goldsmithing. He developed a passion for this second discipline during classes given by Gabriel Lacroix, who became his mentor. Under Lacroix's guidance, Serge Mouille became one of the leading experts in metalwork. Unfortunately, he was forced to stop his studies temporarily when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Serge Mouille (1922-1988) was born in Paris. He was not a very studious pupil, but very quickly showed a predisposition for drawing. He was a precocious talent, passing the entrance exam to the École des Arts Appliqués at the age of 13. He decided to study metallurgy and goldsmithing. He developed a passion for this second discipline during classes given by Gabriel Lacroix, who became his mentor. Under Lacroix's guidance, Serge Mouille became one of the leading experts in metalwork. Unfortunately, he was forced to stop his studies temporarily when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. /wp:paragraph wp:spacer {"height":16} /wp:spacer wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15952, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} Serge Mouille at work Serge Mouille at work © Barnies /wp:image wp:paragraph He resumed his studies and graduated with flying colours in 1941. After the war, having become a master in the art of modelling metal with a hammer, Serge Mouille worked for various silversmiths, including Hénin Orfèvre. In 1947, following a competition, he was appointed to succeed Gabriel Lacroix at the École des Arts Appliqués. Initially Lacroix's assistant, he officially succeeded him in 1954 as professor of drawing and chiselling. He resumed his studies, graduating with flying colours in 1941. After the war, having become a master in the art of modelling metal with a hammer, Serge Mouille worked for various goldsmiths, including Hénin Orfèvre. In 1947, following a competition, he was appointed to succeed Gabriel Lacroix at the École des Arts Appliqués. Initially Lacroix's assistant, he officially succeeded him in 1954 as professor of drawing and chiselling. /wp:paragraph wp:spacer {"height":17} /wp:spacer wp:image {"align": "centre", "id":15953, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} Cut-out shapes and figures created by Serge Mouille between 1950 and 1955. Serge Mouille is a goldsmith in the art of working metal Cut-out shapes and figures created by Serge Mouille between 1950 and 1955. Serge Mouille is a goldsmith in the art of working metal © Le strict maximum /wp:image wp:paragraph Serge Mouille's career as a designer was precipitated by encounters. On the commuter train that took him to Paris every day, he met Slavik, a decorator at Publicis. Slavik introduced Serge Mouille to Jean Adnet, then head of the Galeries Lafayette display team. While Slavik and Jean Adnet were commissioning Serge Mouille to design lighting for an exhibition, Mouille met Jean Adnet's twin brother, Jacques Adnet, director of the Compagnie des Arts Français, who asked him to design lighting for his South American clients. These encounters were to precipitate Serge Mouille's career as a designer. On the commuter train that took him to Paris every day, he met Slavik, a decorator at Publicis. Slavik introduced Serge Mouille to Jean Adnet, then head of the Galeries Lafayette display team. While Slavik and Jean Adnet were commissioning Serge Mouille to design lighting for an exhibition, Mouille met Jean Adnet's twin brother, Jacques Adnet, director of the Compagnie des Arts Français, who asked him to design a lighting fixture for his South American clientele. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph This project launched Serge Mouille's meteoric career as a designer. The teacher got down to work and it took him almost a year to design a 1st floor lamp in enamelled aluminium, with 3 arms articulated with ball-and-socket joints. The lampshades attached to the ends swivel and tilt, and are topped with a teat - the "Serge Mouille" style of lighting was born. For this 1st project, delivered in 1952, Serge Mouille wanted to design a piece that stood out from the standards of the time, particularly Italian lighting, which he considered too technical. /wp:paragraph wp:spacer {"height":18} /wp:spacer wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15954, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} 3-arm floor lamp model MFL-3, design: Serge Mouille, 1952. Tripod base, the shadow interiors are white 3-arm floor lamp model MFL-3, design: Serge Mouille, 1952. Tripod base, shadowy interiors are white © Le strict maximum /wp:image wp:paragraph Over the next 10 years, Serge Mouille perfected his insect-like designs, adapting his aesthetic vocabulary in the form of minimalist floor lamps, table lamps, pendant lamps and wall lights. The "Mouille Style": thin steel rods in black lacquered metal, brass ball-and-socket joints, meticulously hand-crafted aluminium sheet reflectors in unique shapes that evoke the female breast, a sculptural aesthetic that gives the impression of movement in space. Over the next 10 years, Serge Mouille perfected his insect-like designs, adapting his aesthetic vocabulary in the form of minimalist floor lamps, table lamps, pendant lights and wall lights. The "Mouille Style": slender steel rods in black lacquered metal, brass ball-and-socket joints, meticulously hand-crafted aluminium foil reflectors in unique shapes that evoke the female breast, a sculptural aesthetic that gives the impression of movement in space. /wp:paragraph wp:spacer {"height":18} /wp:spacer wp:image {"id":15955, "width":519, "height":511, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} Serge Mouille's famous breast-shaped reflectors Serge Mouille's famous breast-shaped reflectors © Le strict maximum /wp:image wp:image {"align": "right", "id":15956, "width":490, "height":410, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} "Spider" wall lamp Wall lamp " Araignée " 7 fixed arms, design : Serge Mouille Reissue from 1955 by Editions Serge Mouille /wp:image wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15957, "width":499, "height":454, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none", "className": "is-style-default"} Wall light 2 swivel arms, right, design : Serge Mouille, 1954 Wall light 2 swivel arms, right, design :Serge Mouille, 1954 © Nedgis /wp:image wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15958, "width":280, "height":441, "sizeSlug": "large", "className": "is-style-default"} Straight floor lamp Straight floor lamp with 1 fixed arm, design : Serge Mouille, 1953 /wp:image wp:image {"align": "centre", "id":15960, "width":683, "height":455, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} "Cocotte" model lamp Cocotte" model lamp design: Serge Mouille, 1957 /wp:image wp:spacer {"height":15} /wp:spacer wp:paragraph Unique fact: Serge Mouille chisels each reflector by hand. These are real jewels with a smooth finish that cannot be reproduced using conventional techniques. What's more, the designer will always refuse to industrialise his models - he will create around fifty of them - preferring to jealously preserve his unrivalled expertise. Each model is unique, offering a wide variety of lighting styles. Serge Mouille chisels each reflector by hand, creating jewels with a smooth finish that cannot be reproduced using conventional techniques. What's more, the designer will always refuse to industrialise his models - he will create around fifty of them - preferring to jealously preserve his unrivalled expertise. Each model is unique, offering a wide variety of lighting styles. /wp:paragraph wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15961, "width":458, "height":571, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} "Tuyau" wall lamp, design: Serge Mouille, 1955. A genius of metalwork, Serge Mouille designed a series of luminaires with original shapes Wall lamp "Tuyau", design: Serge Mouille, 1955. A genius of metalwork, Serge Mouille designs a series of luminaires with original shapes Wall light "Tuyau", design: Serge Mouille, 1955. A genius of metalwork, Serge Mouille designed a series of luminaires with original shapes /wp:image wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15962, "sizeSlug": "medium"} "Eye" wall lamp Applique "Eye Wall light " Eye " /wp:image wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15964, "width":161, "height":242, "sizeSlug": "medium"} Wall light " Flame " Flame" wall lamp Flamme" wall lamp /wp:image wp:image {"align": "centre", "id":15965, "width":547, "height":364, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} "Conche" wall lamp, design: Serge Mouille, 1957. Serge Mouille was inspired by the shapes of nature, often shells, as seen here Wall light "Conche", design: Serge Mouille, 1957. Serge Mouille was inspired by the shapes of nature, often seashells, as here "Conche" wall light, design: Serge Mouille, 1957. Serge Mouille was inspired by the shapes of nature, often seashells, as here "Conche" wall light, design: Serge Mouille, 1957. Serge Mouille was inspired by the shapes of nature, often shells, as here /wp:image wp:paragraph 3 personalities enabled Serge Mouille to carry out his goldsmith's work by hand, to make his work known and to record commissions. Serge Mouille never wanted to entrust the production and distribution of his pieces to a publisher, so he found the gallery owner Steph Simon (1902-1982), who exhibited exclusive designs by Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand , an ideal intermediary for exhibiting his designs in Paris. To manufacture his lamps, Mouille relied on Henri Depierre, who welded the first 3-arm floor lamps. Finally, he could count on the influence of the decorator Louis Sognot (1892-1970) to place his creations when he obtained commissions from private individuals. /wp:paragraph wp:spacer {"height":15} /wp:spacer wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15966, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} Galerie Steph Simon stand at the 1959 Salon des arts ménagers. Serge Mouille's lighting fixtures feature prominently at the Galerie Steph Simon stand at the 1959 Salon des arts ménagers. Serge Mouille's light fittings feature prominently © Le strict maximum /wp:image wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15967, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination": "none"} 1st Triennale of Contemporary French Art, 1956. In the background, a Serge Mouille wall lamp with 3 pivoting arms on the Louis Sognot stand at the 1st Triennale d'Art français contemporain, 1956. In the background, a Serge Mouille wall lamp with 3 pivoting arms on the Louis Sognot stand © Le strict maximum /wp:image wp:paragraph From 1952 to 1963, Serge Mouille independently created his famous black metal luminaires with an instantly recognisable style - the Formes Noires Formes Noires series - while continuing to teach. He stopped working in 1963 for various reasons: the Steph Simon gallery ran into financial difficulties, he ended his collaboration with Henri Depierre and his new series - Colonnes Colonnes -, created in 1961, met with mixed success. However, he continued to teach and draw. It was not until the 1980s that his work was once again showcased in various retrospectives. Serge Mouille died of tuberculosis in 1988. /wp:paragraph wp:spacer {"height":27} /wp:spacer wp:media-text {"mediaId":15968, "mediaType": "image", "mediaWidth":37} wp:paragraph {"placeholder": "Contents...", "fontSize": "large"} Lamps models Très Grand Signal and Grand Totem, design Serge Mouile, 1962 and 1963, Colonnes series. With his new series, Serge Mouille radically changed his aesthetic language. His lighting columns used fluorescent tubes, which were new at the time. Lamps models Très Grand Signal and Grand Totem, design Serge Mouile, 1962 and 1963, Column series. With his new series, Serge Mouille radically changed his aesthetic language. His lighting columns used fluorescent tubes, which were new at the time. Lamps models Très Grand Signal and Grand Totem, design Serge Mouile, 1962 and 1963, Column series. With his new series, Serge Mouille radically changed his aesthetic language. His lighting columns used fluorescent tubes, which were new at the time /wp:paragraph /wp:media-text wp:spacer {"height":51} /wp:spacer wp:image {"align": "center", "id":15969, "sizeSlug": "large", "linkDestination":"none"} L ampes de la série Colonnes dans un intérieur contemporain ampes de la série Colonnes dans un intérieur contemporain © Scandinavia Design /wp:image wp:paragraph In 1999, Gin Mouille, Serge Mouille's widow, founded Editions Serge Mouille with Claude Delpiroux. Most of the models created during her husband's active decade are now being produced again, in strict accordance with the shapes and dimensions of the originals. A delight for lovers of the designs of the master goldsmith whose creations are recognised and celebrated the world over. In 1999, Serge Mouille's widow, Gin Mouille, founded Editions Serge Mouille with Claude Delpiroux. Most of the models created during her husband's active decade are now being produced again, and scrupulously respect the shapes and dimensions of the originals. A delight for lovers of the designs of the master goldsmith whose creations are recognised and celebrated the world over. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph {"align": "right"} François Boutard François Boutard François Boutard /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Photo cover credit: © Liberty's Photo cover credit: © Liberty's /wp:paragraph

Serge Mouille: Master goldsmith of luminous design

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