Pair of massive wall sconces made by the french artist Guy Bareff, with inner light sources.
Signed and numbered on the side.
 
GUY BAREFF – Born in 1942
Born in 1942 in Macon, Guy Bareff, is the son of an Accolay pottery founder. As a child, he would sketch houses, harboring dreams of becoming an architect. Yet, under the guidance of his ceramist father, he chose a different path, leaving school to immerse himself in the artisan workshop. It was within these walls that he cultivated his skills in turning, initiating his exploration to the world of clay.
From the late 1960’s, Guy Bareff, devoted his artistic skills to clay ceramics. The works of artists such as Constantin Brancusi, Hans Arp and Alberto Giacometti influenced his perspective on the interplay of movement and volume.
Using solely clay as a medium of expression, Bareff molds and sculpts his utilitarian pieces in an artisanal manner. He describes these creations as “simultaneously raw and pared-down, curved and almost sensual”.
Among his repertoire are tables, illuminating sitting, wall sconces resembling simplified primitive masks, lamps, geometric shelves, totems and other decorative pieces. In May 1968, he showcases his inaugural architectural pieces in Marseille, swiftly followed by success. The subsequent year sees architect Emile Sala seeking his expertise to craft the terracotta framework for a chrome metal fireplace designed by Max Sauze destined for the avant-garde Benkemoun villa in Arles.
Guy Bareff’s work resonates with the Mediterranean landscapes embodying an intimate connection with the four natural elements and the surrounding topography. From the undulating curves of the hills in Provencal Drôme to the caverns of Val d’Enfer, the limestone terrain of the Alpilles, the burnt ocher soil of the Roquebrune massif, the warmth of the calanques and the maritime winds. All of these elements resonate on Bareff’s intemporal forms.