272. MANOLO HUGUÉ (1872-1945). Brooch ‘Girl playing the harp'. 1934-1941.

Lot description

18kt yellow gold. Convertible into a pendant.
47 x 67 mm
Weight: 49 gr.
Reference literature: José Pla, "Vida de Manolo", Barcelona, Destino, 1947, pp. 232-233; Montserrat Blanch, "Manolo", Barcelona, Polígrafa, 1972, pp. 149 and 152, cat. no. 294; "Manolo Hugué", Barcelona, Fundació Caixa de Catalunya-Ajuntament de Barcelona, 1990, p. 154, cat. no. 113, and p. 213; "Joyas de artista. Del modernismo a la vanguardia’, Barcelona, MNAC, 2010, p. 194, cat. no. 202.
MANOLO HUGUÉ (1872-1945) was a major figure of 19th-century art (Noucentisme). He was best known as a sculptor, but he was a multifaceted artist who also worked in painting and design, including jewellery, one of his most mysterious facets. This versatility is reminiscent of other sculptors of the previous generation, such as Ismael Smith or Paco Durrio, with whom he shared certain stylistic traits, in his case enhanced by his fondness for primitivism and the weight of Cubism within the universe of the avant-garde. Thus, his jewellery is reminiscent of his sculptural production, with enigmatic figures of great volumetric force.
In the case of these jewels, the main references in public collections are the MNAC in Barcelona and Museu Thermalia in Caldes de Montbui, the latter being without doubt the institution that holds the most important collection of this sculptor's work. Therefore, the different lots offered by SUBARNA are a unique opportunity to appreciate Manolo's art as a jeweller, given his quality. This is the largest volume ever offered of this kind of creations in a single auction; but above all, because of the exceptional nature of the material used, gold, as opposed to the models kept in other museums (in silver).