Claudius Linosier is considered one of the greatest metalworkers of the French Art Deco era. A jeweler and medalist by training, he was an excellent engraver, enameller and expert in varnishing techniques. During his life, he created more than 3,600 objects (decorative plates, vases, etc.) using the technique of dinanderi – as in France the art of metalworking is called by the method of shaping objects from sheet metal such as copper, brass, silver or tin, mainly by forging . This word appeared in the 14th century, after the name of the city of Dinan in Belgium, where this craft flourished at that time.
Linosier’s works, most often decorated with geometric patterns, are distinguished by a combination of colorful patination and the use of inlays with non-ferrous metals.
Claudius Linosier, who came from a modest family, was born in 1893 in Lyon. In 1904, he entered the school to master the craft of metal processing. He first worked as a mechanic, and then entered the Berger-Nesme jewelry house, where he learned to work with precious metals.
During the First World War, Linosier entered the army and remained in service until 1919. Returning to Paris after the war, he worked with the famous jeweler and designer Jean Dunant (1877-1942), who was the first to restore popularity to decorative items made from non-ferrous metals. It was during this short period that Linossier found his inspiration, discovering the richness of the antique collections of the Louvre, in particular, Greek vases by the ancient artist Duris (5th century BC).
This is what the master himself said about this: “There is a magnificent master Duris, this subtle Greek with a soul as pure as the horizon of Attica… What did he not teach me in the shadow and silence of the three rooms of the Louvre? His ceramics seemed metallic to me, so I try to make ceramics similar to his from my metals. I owe it to Duris with all my heart.”
Like his teacher, Jean Dunant, Linossier excelled in the traditional craft of dinandri. He then returned to Lyon in 1920 and opened his own workshop. Very soon his works became popular thanks to participation in art exhibitions and Salons.
In 1925, Linossier built a house in Lyon, on Rue Belfort, where he worked and lived until his death. He created 200 to 300 works annually with the participation of his wife and co-author Hélène Linosier. In 1926, the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts opened a room dedicated to the decorative arts, where he housed his works, his reputation already becoming international.
To decorate his works, Linosier used the technique of hot inlay with non-ferrous metals (silver, brass, nickel silver and copper), previously patinated with acid or oxidized with a blowtorch. To obtain the characteristic patina and fix it, the artist heats the object 300–400 times to a temperature of 500 to 900 degrees.
Each non-ferrous metal has its own aesthetic properties. Thanks to copper they get their entire range of red colors. Nickel silver allows you to get a beautiful deep black color. Brass gives the product a light brown or olive yellow color.
Hélène Linosier died in 1952. In memory of his late wife, Linossier established three scholarships for students at the Lyon School of Fine Arts in 1953 and bequeathed some of his works to the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts. In October of the same year, he committed suicide.
