Each Claude Victor Boeltz piece is glamorous yet retains a richly organic feel that adds a touch of bold sophistication to any interior. This French Surrealist designer popularized a technique he called “exploded bronze” — a process that has the metal components of a given piece appear as if they were liquified and then crystalized after an explosion.
Boeltz was born in Paris in 1937. There were several artists in his family, and Boeltz quickly developed creative interests at an early age. He fell in love with painting, architecture, ceramics and more, but was also intrigued by scientific fields such as geology and anatomy.
Boeltz studied under the sculptor Henri Molins and apprenticed at the Susse Frères and Houdot foundries. Additionally, he enrolled in classes in the evenings at the Boulle School in Paris and the Paris Academy of Art. He frequented museums and found much to appreciate in the work of artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Demetre Chiparus, Salvador Dalí, and Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann.
After moving to the French Riviera, Boeltz became personally acquainted with Pablo Picasso. He worked for a period with Picasso, and in the mid-1960s, he established a foundry in the Loire Valley. By the late 1960s, his work was being noticed around Europe (his works were sold by the likes of Cartier). His turning point came in the early 1970s when he met the sculptor César Baldaccini, whose “compression” pieces inspired Boeltz to experiment with abandon, and his “exploded bronze” technique was born.
Boeltz’s Hollywood Regency-style furnishings — mirrors, candlesticks, picture frames, lamps and even ceiling fixtures — were made with this new process. The designer then worked to decorate these “exploded” pieces with semi-precious stones — often African emeralds — or other luminous materials such as quartz and Murano glass. He subsequently opened two foundries to produce these kinds of works.
In the early 1980s, Boeltz moved his facilities to the United States. He built a large foundry in Nevada, and today, Las Vegas hotels now house many of his works. His collectors have also included Salvador Dalí, Baron Rothschild and others.
On 1stDibs, find Claude Victor Boeltz decorative items, lighting, serveware and more.
Claude Boeltz Exploded Bronze & 24-Karat Gold Sunburst Flush Mount Chandelier
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
This stunning and dramatic flush mount was hand crafted by the esteemed artist Claude Boeltz in France. It features an expressionistic sunburst pattern realized in two rows of exploded bronze...
Gold, Bronze
$1,640Sale Price|57% Off
H 14.97 in W 12.6 in D 5.12 in
CLAUDE VICTOR BOELTZ 70's French 'exploded bronze' lamp
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Sherborne, GB
CLAUDE VICTOR BOELTZ Sculptural golden gilt-plated exploded bronze lamp with rock crystal inclusions. The natural rock quartz crystal wands are set into t...
Agate, Rock Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Quattro Globe Flush Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian midcentury flush mount with 4 glossy white Murano glass globes mounted on solid brass frame in unlacquered natural brass finish / Made in Italy 4 lights / E12 or E14 type / m...
Brass
Sei Shade Flush Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian midcentury flush mount with 6 amber bubbles Murano glass shades mounted on solid brass frame in satin brass finish / Made in Italy 6 lights / E12 or E14 type / max 40W each M...
Brass
Sei Globe Flush Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian midcentury flush mount with 6 matte white Murano glass globes mounted on solid brass frame in satin black nickel finish / Made in Italy 6 lights / E12 or E14 type / max 40W e...
Brass
$1,992 / item
H 11.82 in Dm 15.75 in
Vistosi Giogali Flush Mount in Crystal Bronze Glass And Matt Bronze Frame
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Vistosi
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
A pure element: the crystal hook. It is the intuition of a master of Italian design, Angelo Mangiarotti, who in 1967 created the best seller of the Vistosi catalogue, Giogali. An ico...
Glass
$5,826 / item
H 16.54 in Dm 31.5 in
Vistosi Giogali Flush Mount in Crystal Bronze Glass And Matt Bronze Frame
By Vistosi, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
A pure element: the crystal hook. It is the intuition of a master of Italian design, Angelo Mangiarotti, who in 1967 created the best seller of the Vistosi catalogue, Giogali. An ico...
Glass
$4,094
H 14.77 in W 14.18 in D 6.7 in
Claude Victor Boeltz 24 Karat Gold-Plated 'Exploded' Photograph Frame
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Hastings, GB
Claude Victor Boeltz sculptural 24-karat gold-plated exploded photograph frame with lamp and rock crystal inclusions. The natural rock quartz crystal wands...
Bronze
$25,986 / item
H 137.8 in Dm 39.38 in
Vistosi Giogali Flush Mount in Crystal Amber Glass Matt Bronze Frame
By Vistosi, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
A pure element: the crystal hook. It is the intuition of a master of Italian design, Angelo Mangiarotti, who in 1967 created the best seller of the Vistosi catalogue, Giogali. An ico...
Glass
$25,986 / item
H 137.8 in Dm 39.38 in
Vistosi Giogali Flush Mount in White Glass And Matt Bronze Frame
By Vistosi, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
A pure element: the crystal hook. It is the intuition of a master of Italian design, Angelo Mangiarotti, who in 1967 created the best seller of the Vistosi catalogue, Giogali. An ico...
Glass
$25,986 / item
H 137.8 in Dm 39.38 in
Vistosi Giogali Flush Mount in Black Glass And Matt Bronze Frame
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Vistosi
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
A pure element: the crystal hook. It is the intuition of a master of Italian design, Angelo Mangiarotti, who in 1967 created the best seller of the Vistosi catalogue, Giogali. An ico...
Glass
$25,986 / item
H 137.8 in Dm 39.38 in
Vistosi Giogali Flush Mount in Crystal Bronze Glass And Matt Bronze Frame
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Vistosi
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
A pure element: the crystal hook. It is the intuition of a master of Italian design, Angelo Mangiarotti, who in 1967 created the best seller of the Vistosi catalogue, Giogali. An ico...
Glass
Vistosi Giogali Flush Mount in Black Glass And Matt Bronze Frame
By Vistosi, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
A pure element: the crystal hook. It is the intuition of a master of Italian design, Angelo Mangiarotti, who in 1967 created the best seller of the Vistosi catalogue, Giogali. An ico...
Glass
Claude Boeltz Exploded Bronze & 24-Karat Gold Sunburst Flush Mount Chandelier
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
This stunning and dramatic flush mount was hand crafted by the esteemed artist Claude Boeltz in France. It features an expressionistic sunburst pattern realized in two rows of exploded bronze...
Gold, Bronze
Sold
H 4.5 in Dm 28 in L 4.5 in
Claude Boeltz Exploded Bronze and 24-Karat Gold Sunburst Flush Mount Chandelier
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
This stunning and dramatic flush mount chandelier was hand crafted by the esteemed artist Claude Boeltz in France. It features an expressionistic sunburst pattern realized in exploded bronze...
Gold, Bronze
Sold
H 5.5 in Dm 23 in
Claude Boeltz Modernist Flush Mount Chandelier with Gilded Bronze & Blown Glass
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
This stunning flush mount chandelier, handmade by the renowned French designer Claude-Victor Boeltz, features an explosion of organic forms rendered in gilded bronze and a smoked gra...
24k Gold, Bronze