France / Russia Art Nouveau Perpetual Calendar (late 19th - early 20th c.) - France-Russia Alliance

152.84g. 150x145mm. 

Nickel-plated galvanic bas-relief on velvet backing. The figures likely represent allegories of France and Russia, by analogy with another work by Felix Rasumny, the plaquette Exposition des artistes français russes (Exhibition of French and Russian Artists), 1895, Diakov 1168. For use, three movable strips showing the day of the week, month, and year were inserted into the lower slots and advanced successively. 

Very rare. 

Obv.: Jugate left-facing female busts in profile, one wearing a stylized crown, the other with floral ornament in the hair. At the base, inscription: 

OFFERT PAR LA MAISON F. MARCEROU & J. SCHRETER PARIS 

(Offered by the firm of F. Marcerou & J. Schreter, Paris). 

Felix Rasumny (1869-1940) was a French engraver, jeweler, and medallic artist of Russian birth, born in Sevastopol, Russian Empire. In his youth he settled in Paris, where he studied at the École des Arts Décoratifs under Millet, Gauthier, and Tasset and built his career within the French artistic world.

He worked across a wide range of decorative and medallic forms, including medals, medallions, jewelry, coins, and sculptural models. Rasumny exhibited at the Salon of the Société des Artistes Français in 1891 and later at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900, where he was awarded a silver medal. Among the works associated with his name are the large cast-iron maquette created for the celebrations of the opening of the Pont Alexandre III and the design of the French 10-franc coin of 1929. He also produced small-scale sculptural works on Russian and Ukrainian themes.

In 1911 he became a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, and in 1933 he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.