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Claude Victor Boeltz Wall Lights and Sconces

French

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.

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Creator: Claude Victor Boeltz
Pair of Modernist Sconces in Exploded 24K Gilt Bronze & Crystal by Claude Boeltz
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
This stunningly ornate Pair of Modernist Sconces in Exploded 24Karat Gilt Bronze and Quartz Crystal is by the esteemed artist and designer Claude Boeltz and originates from France du...
Category

20th Century French Modern Claude Victor Boeltz Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Crystal, Gold, Bronze

Modernist 24 Karat Gold & Exploded Starburst Sconce W/ Quartz by Claude Boeltz
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
This spectacular Modernist 24 Karat Gold & Exploded Bronze Starburst Sconce W/Quartz Crystal by Claude Boeltz originates from France during the latter half of the 20th Century. Featu...
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20th Century French Modern Claude Victor Boeltz Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Quartz, Gold, Bronze

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Wall Light Lamp Sculpture by Boeltz, France, 1970s
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Rare wall light lamp sculpture by the French artist Claude Victor Boeltz. Technic called explose bronze gilt 24-karat with pyrite and dioptase natural stone original image from Boeltz showroom during the 1970s where we can see this work. Bio Claude Victor Boeltz Erosurrealist master artist born in Paris, France in 1937. From 1945-1960 Coming from a family of artists for three generations, orphaned by my father, dislocated family, I had passion, if not the rage, to learn art, namely sculpting, painting, foundry work, chiseling, pottery, architecture, human anatomy, ironworking and blacksmithing, and geology, focusing on gems and minerals. My first apprenticeship was with the sculptor Henri Molins. My foundry apprenticeships included working with world famous Susse Foundry and Houdot Foundry. My chiseling apprenticeship was under master Soudoun, which in turn enabled me to receive the “Best Worker in France” National Honor. At night, I attended school and received degrees from the Boule School, Gambetta School and the Academy of Art in Paris. I spent most of my Sundays during this period going to museums. I can’t imagine not being able to realize a complete masterpiece. It is during these years that I worked on artists’ masterpieces, present and past. These included Bersus, Meunier, Giacometti, Ponpon, Chipparus, Dali, Dajou, Ruhlman, and many others. I worked at the Louvre Museum, focusing on the Louis XIII through Louis XVI styles. The years of my pottery working were spent in the French Riviera, where I met and worked with Pablo Picasso and many countless others. I was the young guy in the footsteps of these great masters – unconscious of the privilege which was bestowed upon me. From 1960-1970 Created a foundry in the Castle Country of Loire in France. It is during this time that I received an award from the French Government as “The youngest artistic industrialist in France”. I then exposed my works all over Europe namely in Germany, Brussels, Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva, Lausanne and Milan. From 1970-1980 During this period, I met the artist Ceasar, and he introduced me to his “compressed” style of art. That is when I decided to create an opposite art form called “exploded bronze” which creates an explosion of bronze fusion. I used this new unique media of my creation, combined and incrusted with African emeralds with a base and veil made of metacrylite to realize an impressive master piece which I called “Cleopatra”. The taller than life-size sculpture was exposed at the famous George V hotel in Paris as homage to Elizabeth Taylor for her role in the movie. French government officials were present including the minister of culture. Attending this exhibition was Filidor, an “intimate” friend of Dali, which upon seeing my masterpiece and discussing with him wrote in my guest book the following: “To fulfill the void of surrealist sculptures, we must look upon and inspire ourselves from surrealism. I could not have predicted a more adequate process to accomplish this. What can be said? “Idiosyncratic.” I later opened an art studio on the Faubourg St. Honore’ in Paris, followed by an art casting foundry in Fontenay Sous Bois. It is there that I worked on my exploded bronze media, to provide artworks to Fred’s Jewelers...
Category

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Stone, Multi-gemstone, Pyrite, Bronze

Claude Victor Boeltz wall lights and sconces for sale on 1stDibs.

Claude Victor Boeltz wall lights and sconces are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. Many of the original wall lights and sconces by Claude Victor Boeltz were created in the modern style in france during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider wall lights and sconces by Maison Veronese, and René-Jean Caillette. Prices for Claude Victor Boeltz wall lights and sconces can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $15,150 and can go as high as $24,975, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $20,063.

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