Crevasse de Coquillages

This end-lopped egg-shaped “Vase Troyen” (number 46 in the Massier studios catalogue) exemplifies Lévy’s ability to creatively reuse material in surprisingly original ways. The portrayal of mollusks in a submarine setting was a much-loved subject. The shells here are characteristically deftly delineated. Most are deep-etched; one is scratch-etched, a technique Lévy used often. We view the scene as if the vase was lying horizontally, and we peer down through the water to see shells resting on the sandy sea bed. Lévy ‘up-drips’ suggest rocks, beyond which the golden brown of sand yields to the dark blue of deeper water. We sense movement in the water from the shadows of upwardly spiraling indentations. Slicing through the water are piercing shafts of electric blue light cleaved by the interplay of factors above. Because of the ambiguity of the horizontal-vertical axis, to see this vase as intended requires concentrated attention. However, to see it as a beautifully balanced congregation of shapes and textures with a striking color scheme is a sufficient enough reward to maintain our sense of wonder.

-Description by Christopher Baker