Claudius Linossier’s ‘Étoile Rayonnante’ Copper Charger for Dinanderie

This rare French Art Deco monumental dinanderie copper charger, by Claudius Linossier, is composed of hammered copper and brass with geometric concentric and triangular silver patina on a nuanced anthracite background, patinated over a fire to create radial striation. The central decoration features a silver and copper inlay of a Vergina sun (sixteen-pointed star) a popular motif for leaders (Alexander the Great) and the Sun God Helios. The sun radiates waves of lights, a reference to the “etoile rayonnant” or radiating star, a symbol regularly used in Medieval Heraldry. Linossier also includes a row of Greek keys (meanders), a pattern modeled after the Minotaur’s labyrinth, symbolizing cosmological infinity, and unity.