INCREDIBLE 19th CENTURY FRENCH SIGNED FERDINAND BARBEDIENNE SILVERED BRONZE & GILT JEWELRY CASKET BOX - CIRCA 1880
Measures approximately 6 3/8" high by 8 3/8" wide by 4 3/4" deep.
This exquisite French bronze jewelry box has incredibly intricate design work. The lid has a musical theme with different musical instruments on each corner. Cherubs frolicking abound on the front and back panels and on each end panel is a 'Nouveauesque' woman's face.
Signed 'F Barbedienne' under one of the lady masks on one of the end panels (see photo).
The inside of the casket box is wonderfully and brightly gilt. There is a lock but I do not have the key. If one doesn't like the patina which is a result of the loss of silverplating, it can easily be re-silvered.
About the F. Barbedienne Foundry:
The F. Barbedienne foundry was started in Paris
in 1838 by Ferdinand Barbedienne and Achille Collas, who was the inventor of a
machine that would mechanically reduce statues. They at first produced bronze
reductions of antique sculptures of Greek and Roman origin. Their first
contract to produce bronzes modeled by a living artist was made in 1843 when
they arranged to produce the works of Francois Rude. They barely survived the
revolution and financial collapse of 1848 which caused many artists and
foundries to declare bankruptcy. Barbedienne actively pursued contracts with
the many sculptors of Paris contracting with David D'Angers, Jean-Baptiste
Clesinger, and even producing some casts for Antoine Louis Barye as well as
others.
Achille Collas died in 1859 leaving Ferdinand
Barbedienne as the sole owner of the foundry which by that time had grown to
employ over 300 workers at their workshop located at 63 Rue de Lancry in Paris.
Ferdinand Barbedienne was made the President of the Reunion of Bronze Makers in
1865 a post he held until 1885. The outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870
and the shortage of raw metals caused him to have to stop making sculptures but
he did receive a contract from the French government for the production of
cannons which kept his foundry open. After the war he resumed his casting of
sculptures and put even more effort into signing contracts with various
sculptors.
Barbedienne purchased 125 casting models from
the late Antoine Louis Barye’s sale in 1876. He set about casting and selling
editions of these sculptures which was very successful, devoting an entire
catalogue to these works. Ferdinand Barbedienne died on March 21 1891 and was
mourned by many in the world of sculpture. It was said that he strove to the
highest quality in his castings Albert Susse said of him that he was the
"pride of the nation" and that that he "carried the splendor of
our industry so loftily to all international competitions". The running of
the foundry was taken over by Gustave Leblanc, a nephew, and continued the high
standards set by M. Barbedienne. The foundry set up agencies in Germany,
Britain, and the United States to market their production. Leblanc actively
purchased models and production rights form sculptors including Auguste Rodin and
the estates of sculptures including Emmanuel Fremiet. The foundry continued under
the stewardship of M. Leblanc until 1952.