Catalogue essay by Blanche Llewellyn.

Colette Gueden, known as the “diva of Primavera,” was a leading figure in French interior design during the mid-20th century. From the outset of her career, Colette Gueden showed an ambition to be regarded as equal to men by referring to herself as a”decorateur” rather than the feminine equivalent of “decoratrice”. She gained prominence for her work at the Primavera design studio of the prestigious department store Printemps in Paris, where she started as a designer and later became the artistic director. Her eclecticism in the use of materials—horn, glass, ceramic, rhodoid—immediately places her within the history of modernism.

The artist’s 1952 piece, “Buste féminin aux deux oiseaux,” features a glazed ceramic female bust adorned with two birds. This work is significant in the artist’s output due to its exploration of “fantasy”. Gueden’s designs often embraced a playful aesthetic, marked by vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and whimsical details. She frequently incorporated natural motifs such as flora and fauna and animals such as birds and butterflies, infusing her creations with a surrealistic allure reminiscent of a dreamlike realm. Gueden often sets up signals, narratives, and signs in her creations as a way of establishing a real closeness with the collector; for example, this object is not static but invites manipulation and touch, allowing the collector to bring the Primavera atmosphere into their home.

A second example of “Buste féminin aux deux oiseaux” is displayed at the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris.