Design
Serge Mouille, Lighting Maestro
Dan Tolson of Los Angeles Modern Auctions examines the work of French lighting maestro Serge Mouille
Serge Mouille, considered by many to be the master of lighting, exhibited a consistently high standard of design acumen and execution throughout his short career. With unwavering attention to detail, each design, ubiquitous or scarce, was handcrafted in his studio in Paris. Contrary to the majority of his contemporaries, who often exercised different tiers of production in order to respond to market demand, Mouille rejected consumer influences and stayed true to his vision, producing some of the most exquisite works in design history. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a “bad” Serge Mouille design.
Despite their futuristic and machine aesthetic, Mouille’s designs are rooted in the principles of the craft tradition. It comes as no surprise to collectors of his work that he was a trained silversmith and metallurgist of exceptional talent. Hand-cut and molded lampshades, carefully burnished brass joints, and delicately painted black-enameled elements are a few of the characteristics of a Mouille design. As a general rule, collectors covet examples with excellent original paint and the original electrical hardware, including the flex, bulb socket, and early plastic plug. But as always, when collecting Mouille designs, condition, rarity, and provenance are of paramount importance. I should stress once more that there is not a lower-tier Mouille production.
“Les Grand Signal” floor lamp, c. 1963
For our final grade we reach the last stage of the designer’s career. With an increase in demand and a refusal to abandon his principles of hand production, Mouille retreated from the limelight to engage in experimentation with light sculpture. It is from this period, around 1960 to 1963, that we find his most exceptional works. Known as the Colonnes, the designs were a complete departure from the Serie Noir. Rather than exhibiting an organic or anthropomorphic form, the series consisted of square or cylindrical aluminum columns either enameled black or, alternatively, with the bare metal exposed. The columns were cut at various points along their length in order to release light. In my opinion, these later modernist masterworks eclipse those of his mentor Jacques Adnet and place Mouille on the same echelon as his esteemed predecessors of the previous generation Jacques Le Chevallier and Pierre Chareau. Auction estimate: $80,000 – $120,000.
GRADE = A+
