Large and important pair of gilt bronze vases by Levillain and Barbedienne
View Similar Items
Large and important pair of gilt bronze vases by Levillain and Barbedienne
About the Item
- Creator:F. Barbedienne Foundry (Metalworker),Ferdinand Levillain (Sculptor)
- Dimensions:Height: 27.56 in (70 cm)Diameter: 10.24 in (26 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Classical Roman (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:19th Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 143111stDibs: LU95633520172
Ferdinand Levillain
Ferdinand Levillain had his debut at the Paris Salon in 1861 and won recognition through the 1860s and 1870s for his work with the highly respected Barbedienne. In 1878, he ceased his collaboration with Barbedienne and triumphed alone at the Exposition Universelle, where he won the gold medal for his work referencing Antiquity. In 1884, Levillain was awarded a first-class medal at the Salon and in 1889, a silver medal at the Exposition Universelle. In 1892, he was recognized with the highly prestigious Légion d'Honneur. Examples of his work are displayed in many museums, including the Musée de Lyon and the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris. Levillain also collaborated with the Sèvres manufactory and won several medals, which are still visible today at the Louvre Museum and the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Angers.
F. Barbedienne Foundry
Founded by one-time Parisian wallpaper dealer Ferdinand Barbedienne and engineer Achille Collas, one of the most revered foundries in 19th-century France began with the invention of a revolutionary 1830s-era device that could produce proportional reproductions — large or small — of sculptures. Collas’s machine, which yielded miniature likenesses of antiquities for the interiors of homes the world over, was pivotal to the success of the F. Barbedienne Foundry. The successful firm earned prestigious awards and critical acclaim and created exquisite bronze candleholders, clocks and lamps for a range of wealthy and prominent clients.
The duo first launched their company under the name Société Collas et Barbedienne, and early on, they optimized chemical processes for pigmenting and patinating their bronze statuettes. After Collas died in 1859, Barbedienne forged on alone, and the company’s name changed to simply F. Barbedienne.
Barbedienne employed more than 300 workers at that point, and the Maison created a range of furnishings and decorative objects that featured the integration of marble and ormolu accents. However, with the onset of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the foundry was forced to retrofit its molds, and the production of cannons replaced sculptures, furniture and vases.
When Ferdinand Barbedienne passed away in 1891, his nephew and heir, Gustave Leblanc, took over as president, changing the name to Leblanc-Barbedienne. Leblanc expanded production into Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, carrying on the company's legacy with monumental sculptures, and models and securing production rights for famous statues. Paul-Alexandre Dumas, an Art Nouveau maker and student of Louis Majorelle, succeeded Leblanc until the company's closing in 1952.
Barbedienne pieces had been exhibited regularly in the 19th century and were especially prevalent at Europe’s international expositions and world’s fairs, where they received numerous awards. Today, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris holds dozens of Barbedienne works in its collection, including intricate mirrors, vases and cups created by Louis-Constant Sévin at the foundry. For more than two decades, Sévin created lamps, boxes and more at Maison Barbedienne. Working alongside award-winning chaser Désiré Attarge, Sévin designed Napoleon III-era works that greatly appealed to European nobility.
Other notable artists who collaborated with Barbedienne included Eugene Aizelin, Emmanuel Fremiet, Antonin Mercié, Emile Guillemin, Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Levillain and Auguste Rodin.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and collectibles.
- 19th Century French Neoclassical Style Bronze Vase by Levillain and BarbedienneBy Ferdinand Barbedienne, Ferdinand LevillainLocated in London, GBThis elegant vase is cast entirely in bronze and it is signed by its makers, the sculptor Ferdinand Levillain (French, 1837-1905) and the master bronzier Ferdinand Barbedienne (Frenc...Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Vases
MaterialsMarble, Bronze, Ormolu
- Pair of Important Russian Gilt Bronze and Metal VasesLocated in London, GBPair of important Russian gilt bronze and metal vases Russian, circa 1820 Dimensions: Height 98cm, width 43cm, depth 38cm This monumental pair of vases are exquisitely crafted in gilt bronze and metal. They both feature twin scrolled handles, which are decorated with leaves and foliate patterns, as well as classical profiles at the top. These touch the ormolu rims, which feature an egg and dart pattern. The body of each vase is of ovoid form and features further ormolu mounts, including a thick band underneath the waisted neck, twin dog heads at the base of the handles, flowers, stars and more Classical masks with foliate scrolls. The vases are supported by square plinths, with socle form bases and decorations of fluted ribbing and scrolled foliate forms. Heavily inspired by the neoclassical style, which was popular in Russia in the late 18th and 19th centuries, the vases are decorated with gilt bronze relief scenes which allude to motifs in classical mythology. On a rich burgundy ground, the metal body of the vases show figures flanked by palm trees. One vase shows a woman dressed in a classical draped fabric garment playing two flutes and leaning on a pedestal with twirling ivy, while a baby stands...Category
Antique Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases
MaterialsMetal, Ormolu
$844,463 / set - Large Pair of Scagliola and Gilt Bronze VasesLocated in London, GBRich, purple Scagliola and sumptuous gilt bronze combine to make these simple, chic and stylish vases, which feel as up-to-date today as they did in the 19th century when they were f...Category
Antique 19th Century French Belle Époque Vases
MaterialsBronze, Ormolu
$58,462 / set - Pair of red marble and gilt bronze table candelabra by BarbedienneBy F. Barbedienne FoundryLocated in London, GBPair of red marble and gilt bronze table candelabra by Barbedienne French, 19th Century Height 57cm, width 17cm, depth 15cm The exceptional candelabra in this pair, by the famed mak...Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Candelabras
MaterialsMarble, Ormolu
- Large Pair of Rococo Style Gilt Bronze and Blue Ceramic VasesLocated in London, GBThe two vases are of large, ovoid form, and feature fluted bodies which are crafted in ceramic with a mottled blue colouring. The vases are mounted with twin gilt bronze scrolling ha...Category
Early 20th Century French Rococo Vases
MaterialsOrmolu
- Pair of Large French Samson Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Chinoiserie VasesBy Samson & CieLocated in London, GBPair of large French Samson porcelain and gilt bronze Chinoiserie vases French, Late 19th Century Height 57cm, diameter 24cm This superb pair of vases was crafted in the late 19th...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Vases
MaterialsBronze
- Important Pair of Neo-Greek Vases by Levillain and Barbedienne, France, C. 1878By Ferdinand Levillain, Ferdinand BarbedienneLocated in PARIS, FRThe model of these Etruscan Amphoras has been exposed at the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition. Each with a waisted neck raised with bearded satyr ma...Category
Antique 1870s French Greek Revival Vases
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Fine Pair of Neo-Greek Vases by F. Levillain and F. Barbedienne, France, c. 1890By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Ferdinand LevillainLocated in PARIS, FRSigned F. Levillain sculpteur and F. Barbedienne. Pair of Greek style vases made of two patina bronze. Each, designed in the shape of a amphora resting on four hoof feet and a quadrilobed base, is decorated in low-relief with ancient times scenes of grape harvest and picking hops. Overleaf vases, profiles of gods Ariadne and Bacchus are ornated with grape vines and cornucopias. The handles are supported by two bearded heads of gods. Here is the model titled Amphore vendangeurs, modèle n°1 (68 cm), edited by Barbedienne after 1891. We find it in the catalogs until 1911. The figure of Bacchus is a subject dear to Ferdinand Levillain, which he exhibited bronze medallions in his first exposition as well as Universal Exhibitions in which he participated. Ferdinand Levillain (Paris, 1837-1905) studied under the sculptor Jouffroy (1806-1882), before making his debut in 1861 at the French Artists Salon where he continued to exhibit until 1903. At the 1867 Universal Exhibition in Paris, he was praised for a Neo-Greek style bronze cup he made for the firm Blot and Drouard. He was not to become really famous, however, until 1871 thanks to his association with the great bronze founder Ferdinand Barbedienne, who began to exhibit Neo-Greek style lamps...Category
Antique 1890s French Greek Revival Vases
MaterialsBronze
$14,174 Sale Price / set60% Off - Large Neo-Greek Vase by F. Levillain & F. Barbedienne, France, circa 1890By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Ferdinand LevillainLocated in PARIS, FRImportant neo-Greek vase in the shape of an Amphora, made in two patina bronze. The body is decorated with a rich continuous frieze in bas-relief presenting a procession of characters carrying their offerings to the temple, underlined by a decoration of theatrical masks among olive trees. The 's'-scroll handles decorated with grape vines, resting only on the shoulder of the vase, are supported by a ram’s head. Numerous palmettes and friezes adorn the whole. Resting on a molded marble circular base. Biography Ferdinand Levillain (Paris, 1837-1905) studied under the sculptor Jouffroy (1806-1882), before making his debut in 1861 at the French Artists Salon where he continued to exhibit until 1903. At the 1867 Universal Exhibition in Paris, he was praised for a Neo-Greek style bronze cup he made for the firm Blot and Drouard. He was not to become really famous, however, until 1871 thanks to his association with the great bronze founder Ferdinand Barbedienne, who began to exhibit Neo-Greek style lamps...Category
Antique 1890s French Greek Revival Vases
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Pair of Neo-Greek Amphora Vases by Barbedienne and Levillain, France, circa 1880By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Ferdinand LevillainLocated in PARIS, FRPair of Greek style vases made two patina bronze. Each, designed in the shape of a tripod amphora adorned with Hercules heads, is decorated in low-relief...Category
Antique 1880s French Greek Revival Vases
MaterialsGriotte Marble, Bronze
$5,038 Sale Price / set30% Off - Antique Handcrafted Bronze Table Centerpiece Bowl by F. Levillain & BarbedienneBy F. Barbedienne Foundry, Ferdinand LevillainLocated in Lisse, NLStunning French bronze tazza with wine & Bacchus theme, by Ferdinand LEVILLAIN (1837-1905). Every time we find an antique of this extraordinary quality and beauty we wonder what p...Category
Antique 19th Century French Classical Roman Centerpieces
MaterialsBronze
- Neo-Grec Bronze and Patinated Bronze Tazza by F. Levillain, Cast by BarbedienneBy Ferdinand LevillainLocated in Knivsta, SEA beautiful Neo-Grec Tazza in bronze and patinated bronze, signed by the artist Ferdinand Levillain ( 1837-1905) and cast by the famous Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892). France 1...Category
Antique 1860s French Centerpieces
MaterialsBronze