Master staircase, an award-winning masterpiece of craftsmanship Guy Delbarre 1901

- Staircase model, masterpiece of journeyman carpenter Guy Delbarre, in walnut and oak (base). This spiral staircase is called "balancé à l'anglaise". "Balanced" because the treads in the turning quarter are of variable width, whereas "à l'anglaise" refers to the fact that the treads and risers are fixed to a cut-out stringer. This type of staircase first appeared in France in the early 19th century, and was a great success thanks to its elegance.
The curved interior cog string accompanies a flight of twenty-four steps, supported only by a post below the fifteenth step, giving the structure an airy appearance. The treads are "overflowing", with molded nosings. A quarter disk acts as the first step, providing a gentle transition to the rectangular base; an angular shape with chamfered edges.

- Combining head and hands to domesticate the material and overcome technical difficulties without appearing to do so" was the challenge of these masterpieces. The particularity of these works in reduction is that they were created by aspiring journeymen at the end of their Tour de France. They had to showcase their mastery of the craft and their creativity to be recognized by their peers. Technically perfect and aesthetically pleasing, each masterpiece is an assiduous quest for perfection. It's a heap of difficulties conquered thanks to a great deal of preliminary study and intelligence at the fingertips. A privileged tool for contact with reality, the hand nourishes thought, which in turn guides it to transform matter and give substance to the ideas conceived by the mind.

- The exceptional nature of this work earned its author, Guy Delbarre, a medal in the "sculture" section at the Douai Exhibition in 1901.

This medal is enclosed with the work.

- Height: 59 cm (56.5 cm without base)

Base dimensions: 36.5 cm x 41.5 cm

- Provenance: private collection of Henri Klinger

Ref: 7T18AKGBID