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My selection
(35 Objects)

My selection (35 Objects)


François LINKE (1855-1946) and Léon MESSAGÉ (1842-1901) (attributed to), « The Sea », Gilt bronze inkwell

Ref.14892
François LINKE (1855-1946) and Léon MESSAGÉ (1842-1901) (attributed to), « The Sea », Gilt bronze inkwell

This very beautiful Rocaille inkwell is attributed to the Maison Linke, held by the cabinet-maker François Linke in collaboration with the sculptor and designer Léon Messagé , during the second quarter of 19th century. Realized in gilt bronze , this item adopts the same forms as those used by the Rococco style in the 18th century (see Louis XV style ). The inkwell is composed of two ink containers, shaped like shells, with a humpback triton on the right hand side, and a Gibbula nivosa on the left hand side. Additionally, the term «rocaille», at its origin, means artificial caves, where we find copies of shells. The already radiant shape of the inkwell is enhanced further by decorative features in the same sort of style: there is an upside down shell both at the top of, and at the flat part of the inkwell. The asymmetric composition of these different ornaments is typical of the Rocaille style. Léon Messagé was born on the 8th March 1842 in Sens, in Yonne. At the age of 20, he was living in Paris, at 23 rue de Rivoli and was then known as a «stone sculptor». Around 1885, he started to work with François Linke, a well known cabinetmaker during The Belle Époque, by making designs for his furniture and bronze ornaments for him. François Linke (1855-1946) remains nowadays well-known for his pieces of furniture, sometimes surprising, and always of extreme lavishness, where wood and gilt bronze are bringing each other out. He certainly was the most prominent French furniture manufacturer from the late 19th century until the eve of the Second World War, revealed at the 1900 Exhibition.They worked together until Messagé died, at the age of 58 on the 16th May 1901. Messagé became successful during the last decades of the 19th century thanks to his work with François Linke. In fact, Messagé received a gold medal at the 1889 Universal Exhibition, and he designed all the main pieces of furniture displayed at Francois Linke's stand at the 1900 Universal Exhibition. At this same exhibition, still at Francois Linke's stand, there was an inkwell made by Messagé especially for the event. This inkwell is shown in a book by Christopher Payne, François Linke, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture (p. 149). It features in particular the same general form and the waterfall on front of the inkwell. A second inkwell shown by Christopher Payne displays a vegetal motif which is very similar to that of our inkwell. Let us note as well that Messagé, who uses a same general shape for these three objects, takes clearly care to realize different bases and features for each one.Even though he worked a lot for Linke, Messagé always remained an independent artist, working for his own benefit. In his workshop situated at 40 rue Sedaine, in the eleventh arrondissement in Paris, he was both the designer and creator of his pieces of work. The main technique of Messagé's design is «rococo léger», an asymmetric characteristic of the art of rocailleur that Parisian artisans developed in the 1720s and for what he is known as creating a new version of. This inkwell is a good example of Léon Messagé 's unique curved design. Although the inkwell is not signed by himself, there is no doubt that this is his work. The similarity to the inkwell at the 1900 Universal Exhbition is more than obvious. Additionally, in his book of Louis XV style designs and sketches, published in 1890, we find the sketch of an inkwell, which is very similar to the one that we present you now.

Dimensions:
Width: 29 cm
Height: 11 cm
Depth: 21 cm

CARRIER BELLEUSE Louis Robert, Extraordinary vase with Urania , science allegory.

Ref.03142
CARRIER BELLEUSE Louis Robert, Extraordinary vase with Urania , science allegory.

Large ovoid stoneware vase on its tripod base with decoration in high relief made of glazed stoneware. This vase has a wide collar on which unfolds a farandole of lovers having fun with the Moon in a heavenly backdrop of stars and clouds, as an allegory of the day and night.During the night, one of the lovers escapes from the mouth of the personified Moon, while another clings strongly to it. The opposite side, another comforts the Moon who cannot shine during the day.The body of the vase also has a continuous backdrop of flowers and foliage narrating two main stages from Mythology: Urania admiring the stars and the awakening of Aurora.In a setting of ancient remains of balustrades and ionic columns, the muse Urania studies the sky using her telescope and strongly holds her globe with love, while one of her disciples, an Ouranie, takes notes on her speech.The Aurora is voluptuously lying on a bed of flowers and foliage of fields in high-relief, her face still asleep.The entire decor is on a blue background subtly shaded according to whether the scenes take place during the night or day, or when necessary to highlight a character. The harmony of this vase is not only thematic, but also chromatic. Thus, the pedestal with blue ogee curves echoes the night.This vase is presented on a majestic tripod stand with very original decor of upside-down lions, with delicately created coats ranging from beige to dark brown, reflecting the great mastery of their glazes and firings.Lions also rest on a tripod base with finely coiled caryatids endings, the sides decorated with opened shells.This vase is a reflection of the creativity of Carrier-Belleuse, subtly harmonizing his neo-rococo and neoclassical inspirations.It focuses on the description of the complicated rendering of the atmosphere of heaven, floating edges of drapery, hair which frames faces. To acknowledge the reality of the details, he cut the clay still wet, after completing the general form.In the tradition of his father, he pursued his theory that was based on the idea of ??applying the human figure to the decorative arts, especially the female figure. His ability to make realistic characteristics on his models gave him great fame.Louis-Robert Carrier-Belleuse (1848-1913) was the son of Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, of whom he was a student. At the school of fine arts he took lessons taught by Gustave Boulanger and Alexandre Cabanel.In 1877, he acquired from Theodore Deck his first experiences with ceramic.At the 1881 exhibition, he won the prize for best painter, then for the best sculptor in the 1889 exhibition.He designed some models for the Choisy-le-Roi pottery and was its artistic director.Among his works: The National Monument of Costa Rica, A Little Curious at the Museum of Rochefort, The Little Chimney Sweeps, Bearers of flour at the Petit Palais Museum (1885). His works are also kept at the Dahesh Museum, New York; Museum of Art and Archaeology, Moulins, France and the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.

Dimensions:
Width: 66 cm
Height: 144 cm

"The Dragons", Rare pair of gilt-bronze wall sconces  in the Japanese taste

Ref.17256
"The Dragons", Rare pair of gilt-bronze wall sconces in the Japanese taste

Gilt-bronze A dragon in the Chinese style gracefully wraps his slender body around a branch of stylized branches. The inspiration for these sconces comes from the Orient, more specifically China, and they express the taste for Oriental art in vogue at the end of the 19th century. This was the result of the opening of Asia to the West, through their participation in international exhibitions, as well as the collections that were formed by wealthy and enlightened art collectors, such as Henri Cernuschi or the Empress Eugénie who installed a Chinese Museum at Fontainebleau. These contacts meant there was a new decorative repertory, greatly appreciated, that the designers of the 19th century could draw upon when creating elegant new objects for their clientele.    The stylized cloud motif around the dragon and the head of the monster are also characteristic of this same source of inspiration, which encouraged decoration that was both elegant and sophisticated, and was emblematic of a refined lifestyle. Such works integrated perfectly in the distinguished interiors of connoisseurs and lovers of Asian art of the period. This pair of wall sconces, formerly attributed to Édouard Lièvre, took its inspiration from the work of the greatest designers of the period, such as Reiber or Viardot.    The high quality of the chasing of the bronze and the finesse of the fabrication show that these sconces are the work of a true bronze artist who was smitten by this Far-Eastern taste and created an important work of art destined to decorate the most luxurious interiors of the period.  

Dimensions:
Width: 67 cm
Height: 56 cm

Christophe FRATIN (1801-1864), Taureau à la grenouille (A Bull With a Frog)

Ref.11386
Christophe FRATIN (1801-1864), Taureau à la grenouille (A Bull With a Frog)

Between 1839 and 1849 (?) Chef-modèle made out of patinated bronze, base in Rouge Griotte marble. Signed « Fratin », « Fonderie de L. Richard Eyck et Durand » engraved on the base. Dimensions : L. 47 cm / 18’’ 1/2 ; H. 23 cm / 9’’ 1/16 ; P. 26 cm / 10’’ 1/4 REF. 11386 This sculpture was made out of bronze during the 19th century by the famous animal sculptor Christophe Fratin. It represents a young bull moving and more specifically chasing the little frog it has on his back. An other amphibian is set on the base. The reason why this sculpture has so many sharp details is that it is a chef-modèle (original mould) allowing the reproduction of the sculpture in order to produce commercial copies. Indeed, the details lose their quality during the overmoulding process so the chef-modèle is sculpted so as to prevent this loss. When the piece is not meant to be cast in one go, it has to be dismantle so there are bolts which link the different parts of the piece as is the case here. The quality of the beautiful brown patina should be underlined. After the 1848 Revolution, the downturn of the art market forces Fratin to sell his works during auctions, most of the time with their publishing rights which is extremeley rare for a 19th century’s sculptor. Our sculpture has been reassembled with the bolts which were added for the purpose of the sale. We don’t know any copy that would have been made from this chef-modèle, making it particularly unique. In the catalogue of one of these auctions (in July 1849), a « Taureau à la grenouille » (Bull With a Frog) is mentioned, so we can date our sculpture from before 1849.

Dimensions:
Width: 47 cm
Height: 23 cm
Depth: 26 cm

Gabriel VIARDOT (attributed to) - Japanese style cupboard with dragon

Ref.11349
Gabriel VIARDOT (attributed to) - Japanese style cupboard with dragon

This small walnut cabinet is attributed to Gabriel Viardot. The decor is quite characteristic of the production of this Parisian cabinetmaker specializing in Japanese and Chinese-style furniture. The lower part consists of multiple vertical boxes surmounted by three shelves. The upper part of this piece is decorated with latticed wood in the tradition of Japanese furniture. A gilded bronze dragon crowning this cupboard is entirely characteristic of the production of Gabriel Viardot. The vertical uprights are also decorated with gilded bronze elements that we can also find on other productions by Gabriel Viardot. Gabriel Viardot started his wood-sculpting career in 1849, when he sent some furniture pieces in natural décor to the horticultural exhibition. He then became the head of a small team of sculptors when he was just 19 years old. In 1853, he had a factory and a store of furniture located at 36 and 38 Rambuteau Road. During this time, he worked with his brother, Louis Gustave, under the name “Viardot Brothers and Company.” In 1860, he created his own workshop, “G. Viardot” at 5 Grand-Chantier road, and became head of the family business that he kept until 1872. He decided to devote himself to “Chinese-Japanese style furniture,” which he was able to observe mainly at the 1867 World Exposition. At this same exposition, he was awarded four medals. It’s with this production that he was awarded at the 1878 World Exposition with a silver medal. Following that, he practiced consecutively at 15 Chaume road, 3 Archives road in 1878 and 36 Amelot road near the end of the century. His furniture was produced thanks to lacquered and carved panels sent directly from China or Japan and decorated with mother of pearl inlays from Tonkin. He enlivened his furniture with bronze decorations, of which he made all the designs by hand. Over the course of the years, the success only continued to grow, particularly at the expositions of Nice and the 8th exposition of the Central Union of Decorative Arts in 1884. In 1885, he participated in the World Exposition of Antwerp where he obtained a gold medal. At this time, the shop employed 90 – 100 workers, sculptors or cabinetmakers, a lot of who were educated directly by Gabriel Viardot. Following this exposition, he was promoted to the rank of Knight in the Legion of Honor (December 29 1885). In 1889, he was at the World Exposition that took place in Paris and awarded a gold medal. He obtained the same award at the 1900 World Exposition.

Dimensions:
Width: 53 cm
Height: 138 cm
Depth: 34 cm

René ROZET « Young musician with a mandolin », statuary marble sculpture, late 19th century

Ref.13607
René ROZET « Young musician with a mandolin », statuary marble sculpture, late 19th century

This statuary marble sculpture was made in the last decades of the 19th century by the French sculptor René Rozet. Used to sculpt bust portraits, he represents here a young musician from the late medieval period as indicates his haircut and his outfit. Introducing the notion of movement in our bust, the young musician is represented with his body turned toward the right, while his head is turned toward the left. He holds in left gloved hand sheet of paper, a quill and a mandolin leaning against his other arm, which is making a wide movement toward the exterior, thus letting the spectator see the delicacy of his naked hand. As indicates the French newspaper, Le Matin in his publication of the 5th of February, 1905, our sculptor « has understood that it is by grinding and melting all the souvenirs by which is spirit has been impressed, that the artist makes his work, mixing unconsciously and not as a plagiarist, what dictates his imagination with what has stroke his artistic feeling in the past works. » Our bust resting on a steps base, is a beautiful example of this restyled past, inspiring the artists of the late 19th century. René Rozet (1858-1939) is an important and prolific artist of the late 19th century and the early 20th century. He was the student of the Pierre Jules Cavelier and Aimé Millet. He participates very regularly in the Salon des Artistes français between 1876 and 1912 where he presents an important number of plaster and marble portraits. Noticed for his talent by the maison Christofle, he proposes to the silver house many models made next in massive silver, receiving always praised from the contemporary critics. We can for instance speak about an extraordinary mirror depicting the theme of Echo and Narcissus exhibited a first time during the World Fair of 1900, then in the Salon of 1902. Or even, a silver-gilt surtout on the “Air and Water” theme, exhibited the same year. At the same time, he also starts to become bisque sculptor by working for the Manufacture de Sèvres between 1906 and 1923. Thanks to his incredible work, he wins many rewards, especially the First medal in the Salon, two prices during the 1900 World fair, which makes him a unique case, and finally the Légion d’Honneur in 1912. He’s also the father of Fanny Rozet (1881-1958), first female sculptor to be accepted in the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Paris in 1896 and student of Laurent Marqueste (1848-1920). Nevertheless, only few of the many marble busts he made during his career and exhibited in the Salon have been conserved until today. Of his sculpture, independent of other important names, only four bronze bas-reliefs are conserved in the musée d’Orsay in Paris and a marble sculpture untitled « Bonsoir maman » is conserved in the musée des Beaux-Arts of Lyon.

Dimensions:
Width: 77 cm
Height: 58 cm
Depth: 36 cm