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.
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
$3,950 / set
H 31.5 in W 24 in D 20 in
Cleo Baldon Wrought Iron Campaign Armchairs for Terra, circa 1965
By Terra, Cleo Baldon
Located in Camden, ME
A pair of handcrafted wrought iron armchairs designed by Cleo Baldon and produced at her studio/work shop Terra in the 1960s. The chairs and their cushions are in excellent conditio...
Wrought Iron
New Outdoor Armchair in Wrought Iron
Located in Miami, FL
Featuring a structure made of steel with protective cataphoresis treatment, finished in brown epoxy paint. Outdoor use.
Iron
Pair of Antique Black Wrought Iron Garden Chairs
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pair of black wrought iron garden chairs with scrolling arm on cabriole legs and upholstered seat. Upholstery is dirty and will need t...
Iron
$504Sale Price|20% Off
H 21.66 in W 16.93 in D 13.19 in
Wrought Iron French Art Nouveau Children's Armchair, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare Art Nouveau children's armchair. Striking French design from the 1900s. Blue lacquered wrought iron. This wonderful Art Nouveau children's armchair is in good co...
Wrought Iron
$1,613Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 35.83 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in
Set of 4 French Painted Iron & Wood Garden Armchairs
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A set of 4 large French painted iron and wood folding garden armchairs. These antique wide armchairs were crafted in Normandy, France, circa 1920. Each chair has a three-ladder back ...
Iron
Ilana Goor Wrought Iron and Leather Armchair
By Ilana Goor
Located in San Francisco, CA
Wonderful iron and leather armchair by the talented Israeli designer Ilana Goor. This chair features distressed leather with a wrought iron rebar stru...
Iron
Three Wrought-Iron Armchairs - France, Circa 1880
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
A timeless classic, with lovely wire-caned seats and oval backs, scrolled arms and elegant splayed legs. Original patina: light grey with previous yellow paint visible beneath. Very...
Metal
$2,551
H 29.93 in W 22.84 in D 18.51 in
19th century English wrought iron garden chair with curved back
Located in London, GB
This lovely model, English circa 1830s. Simple lines give this a smart understated look that could easily work for an interior with an upholstered squab cushion. Repainted at some point it has, rounded back with scroll end arms and squashed pad feet. Has an industrial feel with the rivets and could make a really cool desk chair
Wrought Iron
$16,500 / set
H 33 in W 20 in D 26 in
Wrought Iron & Blue Cotton Jacques Quinet Armchairs, France 1960's
By Jacques Quinet
Located in New York, NY
Petite pair of armchairs in square wrought iron with brass adjuster feet and brass hardware, upholstered in blue cotton.
Brass, Wrought Iron
2 Armchairs Art Deco, France, 1920
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
2 Armchairs Art Deco Year 1920 Materials : Wood and leather Country: French Elegant and sophisticated armchairs. You want to live in the golden years, these are the armchairs your pr...
Wood, Leather, Walnut
Large Wrought Iron Chair, France, circa 1900
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Very elegant, unusually wide, painted wrought iron garden chair. Sturdy, heavy and beautiful. Blue and white paints visible.
Wrought Iron
$5,704
H 33.47 in W 31.5 in D 23.23 in
Original Bauhaus Armchair, by J. Halabala, UP Zavody, Chrome, Iron, Czech, 1920s
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Model: H-91 This elegant Bauhaus armchair comes from Czechoslovakia from the first half of the 20th century. It is the work of Jindřich Halabala and was produced in UP Zavody as mod...
Steel, Chrome, 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