Presented at the 1902 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art in Turin, this wall sconce model was displayed as part of the dining room furnishings designed by Giovanni Buffa for the Richard-Ginori pavilion. The applique depicts a mermaid embracing a spiral shell, inside which the metal fixture for the light bulb was to be inserted. The figure, with a long twisted tail, stands out against a large oyster shell, perforated at the back to allow the passage of the power cable.
The combination of natural forms with depictions of female figures featuring sinuous profiles reflected the taste linked to the new decorative models of Art Nouveau. The playful entanglement created by the mermaid’s tail, which finally reveals the caudal fin in very low relief on the shell, enhances the lightness of the composition. The model for this applique was discontinued by Richard-Ginori in 1906.
