RAYMOND LEON RIVOIRE - Les Baigneurs - Bronze - Onyx- c.1930

Here is a refined and enriched translation of your description, incorporating historical context, the Art Deco fascination with classical antiquity, and the exceptional quality of Raymond Léon Rivoire’s work:
An exceedingly rare and magnificent pair of bookends in bronze by Raymond Léon Rivoire, dated circa 1930. These sculptural pieces depict a male and female bather, their forms inspired by the grace and idealism of Ancient Greece, a recurring motif in Rivoire’s oeuvre.
The figures embody the Art Deco period’s deep admiration for classical antiquity, where artists sought to merge the elegance of Greco-Roman art with the bold, streamlined aesthetics of modernity. Rivoire’s work, with its harmonious proportions and timeless beauty, exemplifies this synthesis.
Raymond Léon Rivoire (1884–1966), a distinguished French sculptor born in Cusset, studied under the renowned Léon Injalbert at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His career flourished as he exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français, where he was awarded the Gold Medal in 1929, a testament to his mastery. His reputation extended globally, with exhibitions in London, Rome, and Buenos Aires, cementing his status as a celebrated artist of his time.
Among his most celebrated works is the monumental sculpture of Neptune, created for the grand interiors of the SS Normandie, a masterpiece tragically lost in the 1942 fire that consumed the ship in New York Harbor. Rivoire’s sculptures, often executed in bronze, stone, and ivory, are hallmarks of the Art Deco movement, blending classical inspiration with the era’s signature sophistication. His works, such as Diane au lévrier (also known as Artemis), are highly sought after by collectors, prized for their exquisite craftsmanship, rarity, and the artist’s unmistakable style.
This pair of bookends, with their dark brown patina and substantial rectangular onyx bases, stands as a testament to Rivoire’s ability to infuse functional objects with the grandeur of fine art. They are not merely decorative but a rare and treasured example of his genius, embodying the elegance, innovation, and timeless allure that define his legacy.
Raymond Léon Rivoire’s works are held in prestigious collections, including the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, where his contributions to early 20th-century sculpture are preserved and celebrated. His pieces can also be found in other notable institutions, reflecting his enduring influence and the high regard in which his art is held.