If you attended the Great Exhibition of 1862 you would have witnessed the unveiling of the magnificent Ross Fountain — a cast iron sculpture created by Jean-Baptiste Jules Klagmann and produced by the Antoine Durenne Foundry. This work can still be seen in West Princes Street Gardens, near Edinburgh Castle, and a number of additional significant pieces that the foundry made during the course of its long history dot a range of historic parks and gardens all over the United Kingdom.
Antoine Durenne bought the small foundry near Sommevoire in Haute-Marne, France. The foundry was located near another prestigious art foundry called the Val d’Osne. Artist Jean Pierre Andre Victor, who established the Val d’Osne, pioneered the cast iron ornamental technique, which was used in creating works of decorative cast iron (Durenne also practiced this at his foundry). The Durenne foundry began to manufacture balconies, balustrades, fireplaces and lamp posts starting in the 1870s as well as WWI memorials and large figurative sculptures, usually animals, in the 1900s.
Durenne merged with Val d’Osne and other foundries to create a co-op called the Société Anonyme des Haute-Fourneaux et Fonderies du Val d'Osne, also known as the Société Anonyme des Etablissements Metallurgiques. The Durenne foundry and the co-op was purchased in the mid-20th century by the Société Generale de Fonderie d'Hydraulique et de Mecanique, better known as GHM, which still produces work from Durenne’s original foundry in Sommevoire.
Durenne died in 1895 though his contributions to the history of cast iron sculpture and the arts have endured. He was a founding member of École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs. The legendary art and design school played a pivotal role in the iconic movement called Art Deco, and its alumni includes the likes of jewelry designer Charles Garnier, architect Hector Guimard and artist Henri Matisse. Some of the statues produced by the Antoine Durenne Foundry are protected today by various world heritage organizations.
On 1stDibs, find antique Antoine Durenne Foundry building and garden elements, decorative objects and seating.
Antoine Durenne Foundry Satyr Mask Cast Iron Urn
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Hastings, GB
An important and incredibly rare 19th century Satyr Mask Urn from the foundry of Antoine Durenne (catalogue Durenne 1889- PL 404 Coupes et Vases). See last image for catalogue refere...
Iron
Antoine Durenne Occasional Table Side Table in Iron - Jean-Michel Frank
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Uxbridge, GB
A rare wrought iron Occasional Table produced by the Antoine Durenne Foundry in France and dating from the 1930s. The design itself originates with the Durenne Foundry in the late n...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Durenne Foundries Garden Chair in the style of Jean-Michel Frank
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Sharon, CT
Garden chair in original garden green paint , forged wrought iron by Durenne Foundries. This model from the late 19th century, taken over by Jean-Michel Frank. Bibliography: F. Baude...
Wrought Iron
French Louis XVI St. 19th Century Cast Iron Grouping of Two Winged Cherubs
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large-scaled and most charming French 19th century Louis XVI st. cast iron grouping of two winged cherubs holding an urn. The cast iron statue is signed Antoine Durenne in the fron...
Iron
19th Century Meissen Birdcage Grouping
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century Meissen Birdcage Grouping Germany Circa 1880 This enchanting 19th-century Meissen birdcage grouping, made in Germany circa 1880, is a re...
Porcelain
$3,550 / set
H 35.75 in W 22 in D 20 in
Jean Michel Frank Design Pair of Limed Oak and Caned Chairs Art Deco Style
By Jean-Michel Frank
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of limed oak caned and leather upholstered armchairs, originally designed by Jean Michel Frank, circa 1930s. These examples are from a 1990s production by the company Mattalia...
Leather, Cane, Oak
$4,780 / item
H 23.5 in Dm 16 in
"Jean-Michael Frank Attributed Burled Walnut Side Table, Modern Design"
By Jean-Michel Frank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Perfectly scaled and gorgeous in form, this burled walnut side table makes a statement wherever it is. The burled walnut veneer gives this ta...
Brass
Late 19th Century Fiske Foundry Cast Iron Dog
By J.W. Fiske & Company
Located in Santa Monica, CA
J.W. Fiske foundry attributed cast iron Whippet dog. Incredible white paint surface with many different layers of white paint.
Iron
A "Grand Tour" Cast Iron Etruscan Vase/Urn
Located in Sheffield, MA
A “Grand Tour” Cast Iron Etruscan Vase 19th Century Depicting classical Greek figures, with ring handles with a leaf motif on each side. Height 20 in. Vas INV. 9
Iron
$4,000 / set
H 25 in Dm 17.5 in
Jean-Michel Frank Style, Side Tables or Gueridons, Painted Iron, 20th c.
By (after) Jean Michel Frank
Located in Stamford, CT
Jean-Michel Frank Style, Modern, Side Tables or Gueridons, Iron, 20th c. Pair of painted iron side or martini tables in the manner of Jean-Michel Frank. Each example features circul...
Iron
$22,735 / set
H 29 in W 19.25 in D 21 in
Grand Louvre Side Chair by Jean-Michel Wilmotte for Tecno, Set of 8
By Tecno, Jean-Michel Wilmotte
Located in Brescia, IT
Wood with chrome-plated brass and black leather. Great architectural form with interesting details. This prototype chair is part of a commission created as public seating...
Wood
$15,875 / set
H 28 in Dm 14 in
Pair of French Modern Neoclassical Wrought Iron Side Tables, Jean-Michel Frank
By Jean-Michel Frank, Gilbert Poillerat
Located in New York, NY
A delicate, refined pair of French Mid-Century Modern neoclassical side or end tables / gueridon in the spirit of Jean Michel Frank and attributed to the French Master Ironworker, Gi...
Stone, Wrought Iron
Pair Louis XVI Style Cherub Candelabra, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th Century gilded ormolu and white marble Louis XVI style two branch candelabra, each having floral decoration, supported by cherubs, raised on circular pede...
Marble, Ormolu
Rationalist Side or Occasional Table in Ebonized Oak 1930s
Located in Meer, VAN
A beautifully restrained 1930s Dutch rationalist side table of art deco nature. The Netherlands, 1930s. This side or occasional table in ebonized oak veneer shows a simple yet very...
Oak
VERTIS Side Table Jean-Michel Frank Inspired
By Soraya Osorio
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Custom Designer Side Table in Aged Bronze Patina With Blackened Metal Base This bespoke side table features a luxurious aged bronze patina top paired with a sculptural blackened met...
Metal, Bronze, Brass, Steel
Pair of Club Chairs in the style of Jean Michel Frank
By (after) Jean Michel Frank
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of beautifully upholstered custom chairs in the style of Jean Michel Frank. Chairs feature Jim Thompson Great Lakes upholstery ...
Fabric
$29,896
H 27.76 in W 21.86 in D 23.82 in
Original 1930s COMTE S.A. Jean-Michel Frank wrought iron painted gueridons
By Comte S.A.
Located in London, GB
Jean-Michel Franks designed his now famous tripod gueridons in the 1930s. A classic design marrying exceptional quality and demonstrating exactly the designer's mastery of perfectly ...
Iron
$1,220
H 26.78 in Dm 19.1 in
Decorative Cast Iron Garden Urn / Jardinière, French Neoclassical Design, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
A classic cast iron garden urn with an elegant flared rim and decorative detailing, raised on a pedestal and square base. The balanced proportions and timeless design give the piece ...
Iron
$17,900 / set
H 22.75 in Dm 13 in
Pair of French Modern Neoclassical Iron & Stone Side Tables, Jean Michel Frank
By (after) Jean Michel Frank
Located in New York, NY
An Elegant and Timeless Pair of French Mid-Century Style Modern Neoclassical Side or End Tables in the style of the highly noted French designer, Jean-Michel Frank. The tables are co...
Travertine, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 24.5 in W 28.75 in D 23 in
Superb Pair of Large Antique French Cast Iron Garden Vases by Durenne Circa 1870
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… Dating to circa 1870, this large pair of cast iron garden vases has a stunning jet black palette. Stamped by the foundry, A. Durenne.
Metal, Iron, Cast Iron
Sold
H 35.63 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in L 35.63 in
A Wrought-Iron Garden Armchair by Durenne Foundry France 1920's
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in HYÈRES, FR
A Wrought-Iron Garden Armchair by Durenne Foundry France 1920's Incredible exterior patina. Made of solid iron, of the highest quality ( Heavy ). Sold more for decorative purposes...
Iron
Sold
H 83.08 in Dm 8.67 in
Antoine Durenne, Sommevoire Foundry, Rare and important set of four iron torches
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Antoine Durenne (1882-1895), Sommevoire Foundry, Rare and important quintet of four cast iron torches decorated with odalisque children perched on cant...
Iron
Jean-Michel Frank (1893-1941) Durenne Foundries Garden Chairs
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Sharon, CT
Garden chairs in forged wrought iron by Durenne Foundries. This model from the late 19th century, taken over by Jean-Michel Frank. Bibliography: F. Baudet, 'JM Frank, Memoire du Style Collection', Paris 1998 p.23. Catalog of the estate of Madame Adolphe Chanoix, Maunier & Anselme, Toulon Dec 18 1989. Pierre Emmanuel, Martin-Vivier, 'Jean-Michel Frank', editions Norma, Paris 2006, for models from the Durenne Foundries p.227. Leopold Diego Sanchez, 'JM Frank', edition DuRegard, Paris 1997 for models of the Durenne Foundries p.260. Julie Pierotti, 'The Real Beauty the artistic world of Eugenia Errazuriz...
Wrought Iron
19th Century Pair of Flares in Cast Iron Enamelled by Durenne
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Marseille, FR
Pair of enameled cast iron flares by Durenne 19th century Foundry Sommevoire in Haute Marne, height dimension about 170 cm, globe included depth 30 cm x 40 cm width.
Iron
Cupid as Waterspout by A. Durenne, France, 19th Century
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Greding, DE
Sculpture of a cupid out of cast iron, standing on a round iron base by Antoine Durenne (1822-1895). The cupid is depicted in a dynamic stance, holding a large fish in front of his c...
Iron
Pair of Cast Iron Figural Torcheres by A. Durenne
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in London, GB
Each depicting a young male figure holding aloft a torch, on a pair of faux marble pedestals decorated with masks. The company of A. Durenne, maître de forges, was established in ...
Iron
Cast-iron Durenne Garden Fountain
By Antoine Durenne Foundry
Located in Katonah, NY
A cast-iron fountain figure of a seated girl with serene expression, her hair meticulously rendered with braids, the overturned jar on her knee plumbed for water, marked "Durenne Som...
Iron