Diego Giacometti

We authenticate, certify, issue certificates of authenticity (COA), appraise the value and broker the sale of furniture, sculptures or drawings by Diego Giacometti.

Swiss

Born in 1902, Borgonovo, Switzerland.

Died in 1985, Paris, France, aged 83.

Diego Giacometti spent most of his life in Switzerland and France. Born in Switzerland, he moved to Paris in the early 1920s, where he became closely involved with the French avant-garde art scene. He spent much of his time in Paris, where he worked and collaborated alongside major figures like his brother, Alberto Giacometti, and artist friends like Jean Arp and Jean-Paul Sartre.

Typical Subject Matter:

Diego Giacometti is best known for his furniture, which often included figures and animals, although he occasionally produced sculptures. He produced functional pieces such as tables, chairs, and lamps, blurring the lines between art and furniture. These objects, though practical, maintained a strong sculptural presence, with many pieces being delicate yet robust in their design.

His purely occasional sculptural work commonly included human figures in elongated forms, as well as animals, particularly dogs, birds, and horses. His sculptures were generally figurative, often using abstracted or minimal forms to capture movement and emotion.

Diego Giacometti also worked as a draughtsman, often creating sketches of animals, humans, and architectural subjects.

Typical Style:

Diego Giacometti is renowned for his distinctive style of sculpture that merged the human form with a highly stylized, almost abstract approach. His figures were thin, elongated, and highly textured, yet very expressive. He synthetized the human body to its essential, skeletal structure, which allowed for a sense of grace and movement while maintaining an air of abstraction. In both his furniture and sculpture, he often emphasized the beauty of the materials themselves—mostly the texture of bronze. His drawings captured the fluidity and grace of his subjects, often with great simplicity in his lines.

Typical Material and Media:

He primarily worked in bronze. He also worked in wood, metal, and plaster, especially in his furniture designs and more ephemeral works. His works were sometimes painted or finished with a subtle patina to enhance the texture of the materials.

For his works on paper, he often used ink and graphite.

If you own a drawing, a piece of furniture or a sculpture by or attributed to Diego Giacometti, we would like to learn about it. Please send us photos or contact us at [email protected]. You will generally receive a response within 24 hours.