Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

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.

Creator: Antoine Durenne Foundry

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...

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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

French Louis XVI St. 19th Century Cast Iron Grouping of Two Winged Cherubs

$22,500

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Late 19th Century German Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Meissen Birdcage Grouping

$1,516 Sale Price

20% Off

H 5 in W 5.5 in D 4.5 in

English 19th Century Cast Iron Unicorn

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A large, cast iron unicorn with a custom attached base stand. Great detail can be seen in the creature’s mane, head and musculature.

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19th Century English Other Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

English 19th Century Cast Iron Unicorn

$1,500

H 16.25 in W 22.75 in D 4.88 in

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...

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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair Louis XVI Style Cherub Candelabra, 19th Century

$5,224 / set

H 22.84 in W 9.85 in D 5.12 in

Beautiful Cherub Angel Head Door Knocker, Cast Iron, German, 19th Century

Located in Nuernberg, DE

Classic 19th century German cherub angel head door knocker, made of heavy metal (maybe cast iron). Nice addition to your front door. Found at an estate ...

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19th Century German Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Beautiful Cherub Angel Head Door Knocker, Cast Iron, German, 19th Century

$420

H 8.13 in W 4.25 in D 1.75 in

19th-Century French Bronze Sculpture of a Cherub by Clodion

Located in Atlanta, GA

This charming 19th-century French bronze sculpture, signed “Clodion”, beautifully captures the playful spirit of a cherub. The figure stands dynamically poised, one arm raised while ...

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19th Century French Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th-Century French Bronze Sculpture of a Cherub by Clodion

$895

H 7.5 in W 3.5 in D 3.5 in

French 19th Century Heavy Bronze Relief Plaque of 3 Cherubs

Located in Vero Beach, FL

French 19th Century Heavy Bronze Relief Plaque of 3 Cherubs This beautiful 19th century French bronze is a heavy oval plaque featuring three frolicking Cherubs. The high relief and ...

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19th Century Rococo Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Heavy Bronze Relief Plaque of 3 Cherubs

$1,650

H 12.25 in W 10.25 in D 1 in

Pair of French 19th-20th Century Neoclassical Style Cast Iron Figural Torchères

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A very fine pair of French 19th-20th century neoclassical style patinated cast iron figural torchères by A. Durenne, Paris, each representing a figure of a standing young maiden, her arms raised forward while holding a a flaming urn gas light (Now electrified) with a frosted glass flame, each raised on a veined grey marble column stand, both cast-signed 'A. Durenne, Paris'. Antoine Durenne was an internationally renowned French art founder. He attended École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1842. Durenne purchased a small foundry in Sommevoire, near the Val d'Osne, Haute-Marne, France and established The Durenne firm, circa Paris, 1900. Cast-iron had been in production during the 18th century but its inferior status to the more fashionable and delicate wrought iron had generally confined its use to architectural work. By the early 19th century, however, rapid developments of the Industrial Revolution combined with the simultaneous burgeoning of a new middle class provided the impetus for a dramatic Expansion in its application and in a short space of time a proliferation of iron foundries across Europe and America thrived on the production of everything from inkstands to railway stations. The use of cast-iron for garden ornament became particularly widespread at this time, as the possibilities for its mass-production at a fraction of the cost of bronze made it the material of choice for outdoor statuary...

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Early 1900s French Neoclassical Revival Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Iron

Pair of French 19th-20th Century Neoclassical Style Cast Iron Figural Torchères

$49,875 Sale Price / set

41% Off

H 71 in W 29 in D 27.5 in

19th Century Italian Cast Iron Coal Powered Iron

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Classic icon from the last century. Once used in every household, now its cherished for its simplicity and beauty. Cast in it's lid is the ancient symbol of Rome, She wolf with her b...

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1870s Italian Primitive Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

19th Century Italian Cast Iron Coal Powered Iron

$189

H 7.25 in W 4 in D 7.5 in

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.

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Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Late 19th Century Fiske Foundry Cast Iron Dog

$6,500

H 18 in W 39 in D 11 in

English 19th Century Cast Iron Unicorn

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A large, cast iron unicorn, from 19th century England. Unicorns are a common motif used in British and Scottish works. A free unicorn, according to legend, is considered to be a wild and dangerous creature. This unicorn is tame, harmless and eager to guard your door, as it would make an impressive door...

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19th Century English Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

English 19th Century Cast Iron Unicorn

$1,500

H 15.5 in W 23 in D 3 in

Monumental French 19th Century Cast-Iron Bust of 'Head of Antinous as Dionysus'

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Monumental French 19th Century Patinated and Parcel Gilt Cast-Iron Bust of 'Head from a Statue of Antinous as Dionysus' Wearing a Wreath of Ivy ...

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19th Century French Greco Roman Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Monumental French 19th Century Cast-Iron Bust of 'Head of Antinous as Dionysus'

$34,500

H 29 in W 15 in D 18 in

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron "Lion" Inkwell

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Figural lion inkwell boasting original paint with hinged lion's head concealing the well, circa late 1800s Patina / paint loss consistent with age / use.

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Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron "Lion" Inkwell

$550

H 4.5 in W 10.5 in D 8.5 in

Previously Available Items

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 ...

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Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Antoine Durenne Foundry Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Pair of Cast Iron Figural Torcheres by A. Durenne

H 87.41 in Dm 13 in

Antoine Durenne Foundry decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Antoine Durenne Foundry decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Antoine Durenne Foundry decorative objects, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative objects by Antoine Durenne Foundry were created in the Louis XVI style in france during the 19th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative objects by Claude Michel Clodion, Eugene-Antoine Aizelin, and Charles G. Lemire. Prices for Antoine Durenne Foundry decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $22,500 and can go as high as $22,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $22,500.