Founded by one-time Parisian wallpaper dealer Ferdinand Barbedienne and engineer Achille Collas, one of the most revered foundries in 19th-century France began with the invention of a revolutionary 1830s-era device that could produce proportional reproductions — large or small — of sculptures. Collas’s machine, which yielded miniature likenesses of antiquities for the interiors of homes the world over, was pivotal to the success of the F. Barbedienne Foundry. The successful firm earned prestigious awards and critical acclaim and created exquisite bronze candleholders, clocks and lamps for a range of wealthy and prominent clients.
The duo first launched their company under the name Société Collas et Barbedienne, and early on, they optimized chemical processes for pigmenting and patinating their bronze statuettes. After Collas died in 1859, Barbedienne forged on alone, and the company’s name changed to simply F. Barbedienne.
Barbedienne employed more than 300 workers at that point, and the Maison created a range of furnishings and decorative objects that featured the integration of marble and ormolu accents. However, with the onset of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the foundry was forced to retrofit its molds, and the production of cannons replaced sculptures, furniture and vases.
When Ferdinand Barbedienne passed away in 1891, his nephew and heir, Gustave Leblanc, took over as president, changing the name to Leblanc-Barbedienne. Leblanc expanded production into Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, carrying on the company's legacy with monumental sculptures, and models and securing production rights for famous statues. Paul-Alexandre Dumas, an Art Nouveau maker and student of Louis Majorelle, succeeded Leblanc until the company's closing in 1952.
Barbedienne pieces had been exhibited regularly in the 19th century and were especially prevalent at Europe’s international expositions and world’s fairs, where they received numerous awards. Today, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris holds dozens of Barbedienne works in its collection, including intricate mirrors, vases and cups created by Louis-Constant Sévin at the foundry. For more than two decades, Sévin created lamps, boxes and more at Maison Barbedienne. Working alongside award-winning chaser Désiré Attarge, Sévin designed Napoleon III-era works that greatly appealed to European nobility.
Other notable artists who collaborated with Barbedienne included Eugene Aizelin, Emmanuel Fremiet, Antonin Mercié, Emile Guillemin, Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Levillain and Auguste Rodin.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and collectibles.
Crouching Venus Grand Tour Bronze Patinated Sculpture F. Barbedienne Fondeur
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Rochester, NY
Grand tour bronze sculpture of the "Crouching Venus" after the antique. Fine patina. 19th century. Ferdinand Barbedienne (French, 1821-1902). not signed . rare. museum...
Bronze
A Monumental French Patinated Bronze Bust of William Shakespeare, after Houdon
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Queens, NY
A Monumental French Patinated Bronze Bust of William Shakespeare, after Houdon, by F. Barbedienne Foundry, circa 1870. Masterfully and realistically sculpted in solid bronze, this b...
Bronze
$1,850,000
H 90 in W 24 in D 34 in
Tête de cariatide by Amedeo Modigliani
By Amedeo Modigliani
Located in New Orleans, LA
Amedeo Modigliani 1884-1920 Italian Tête de cariatide Head of Caryatid Signed “Modigliani” and numbered “1/8” (near base) Bronze The figural works of the iconic modernist Amedeo ...
Bronze
$1,700
H 7.49 in W 6.3 in D 1.58 in
Petite Acrobate by Yann Guillon - Dancer bronze sculpture, ballet, woman
By Yann Guillon
Located in Paris, FR
Petite Acrobate is a bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Yann Guillon, dimensions are 19 × 16 × 4 cm (7.5 × 6.3 × 1.6 in). Dimensions of the metal base: 11 x 8 x 8 cm (4,3 x 3,1 ...
Bronze
Torso of Ryan
Located in London, GB
Bronze Numbered 2/10 57cm × 18cm × 40cm (incl. base) Ian Rank-Broadley is one of the foremost sculptors working today. His effigy of the late Queen Elizabeth II appears on all UK an...
Bronze
Man with Arms Raised
Located in London, GB
Bronze Numbered 1/10 32cm × 10cm × 10cm (incl. base) Ian Rank-Broadley is one of the foremost sculptors working today. His effigy of the late Queen Elizabeth II appears on all UK an...
Bronze
Turkish Horse
By Antoine-Louis Barye
Located in PARIS, FR
Turkish Horse by Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1875) "Cheval turc, antérieur gauche levé, terrasse carrée" Bronze sculpture with a nuanced dark brown patina Signed " Barye " on the base...
Bronze
Panther sniffing
By Georges Lucien Guyot
Located in PARIS, FR
Panther sniffing by Georges GUYOT (1885-1972) Rare sculpture in bronze with a nuanced dark brown patina Signed on the base " Guyot " Cast by " Susse Frères Editeurs Paris " (with the foundry mark) France circa 1935 height 33,5 cm length 49 cm depth 12 cm Biography : Georges Lucien Guyot (1885-1973) known as Georges Guyot was a French animal artist. From an early age, he showed artistic abilities, but the modest conditions of his parents did not allow him to study art. He was doing his apprenticeship with a woodcarver. Guyot then excelled at copying works of the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but soon he showed a special attraction for nature. This attraction led him to the Jardin des Plantes in Paris where he could study wild animals and translated his observations into sculpture and painting. As a famous figure of Montmartre, he was the host of the Bateau-Lavoir from the time of Cubism. In 1931, Georges Guyot joined the group of "The Twelve", created by François Pompon and Jane Poupelet, gathering sculptors like Marcel Lémar, Paul Jouve, André Margat, Jean-Claude de Saint-Marceaux, Georges Hilbert, or even the painter Adrienne Jouclard...
Bronze
$6,500
H 23.62 in W 3.93 in
Ruth Bloch, Kiss, romantic bronze sculpture, minimalist sculpture
By Ruth Bloch
Located in Tel Aviv, IL
Ruth Bloch, Bronze sculpture, Kiss, 2 figures, classic theme , romantic sculpture, minimalist sculpture
Bronze
Troilus at the Spring
Located in London, GB
Bronze Numbered 2/10 44cm × 9cm × 33cm (incl. base) The young prince Troilus goes to water his horse at the spring unaware of the ambush, which Achilles has prepared for him. A mome...
Bronze
$40,700
H 62 in W 38 in D 33 in
"From the Heart", Martin Eichinger, Figurative, Bronze, Romantic, 62x38x33 in.
By Martin Eichinger
Located in Dallas, TX
The male figure lies atop a cresting wavelike column, seemingly elevated by the experience. One hand is nearly touching his heart while the other hand is held open in a gesture of re...
Bronze
$15,182
H 22.45 in W 24.02 in D 2.76 in
Garibaldi Riding a Horse - Bronze Sculpture by Carlo Rivalta
By Carlo Rivalta
Located in Roma, IT
Garibaldi Riding A Horse is an original bronze sculpture realized by Carlo Rivalta. Signed by the artist. Beautiful and important sculpture representing the most famous Italian Hero...
Bronze
$7,591
H 7.88 in W 22.45 in D 5.12 in
"Odalisque", Nude Side Lying Woman Figurative Bronze Sculpture
By Isabelle Jeandot
Located in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This Bronze by Isabelle Jeandot is one edition of a limited series of twelve original sculptures, and it will be delivered with the certificate of aut...
Bronze
$74,000
H 54 in W 84 in D 72 in
"Whirlwind", Martin Eichinger, Figurative, Bronze, Romantic, 54x84x72 in.
By Martin Eichinger
Located in Dallas, TX
The dynamic nature of this ecstatic pirouette must be experienced from all sides. Whirlwind examines the forces of attraction and separation in a relationship. The couple’s solid bon...
Bronze
Sold
H 18.5 in W 22.5 in D 14 in
Large Grand Tour Bronze Greco-Roman Uffizi Wrestlers Ferdinand Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Rochester, NY
Grand tour circa 1860s bronze of the Wrestlers. Rich fine dark brown patina. Marked "F. Barbedienne Fondeur." The Wrestlers also known as The Two Wrestlers, The Uffizi Wrestlers...
Bronze, Metal
Sold
H 21 in W 13.5 in D 9 in
Large and Rare Patinated Bronze Bust of George Washington, by F. Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Queens, NY
A Large and Rare Patinated Bronze Bust of George Washington, after Houdon by F. Barbedienne Foundry, circa 1870. Very nice quality green patinated bronze bust of President...
Bronze
Sold
H 7.5 in W 5 in D 3 in
Jean-Baptiste Auguste Clesinger, French Bronze Bust of Jesus Christ, Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Queens, NY
An exceptional French patinated realistic miniature bronze bust of Jesus Christ, 1858 Signed: J CLESINGER. 1858 and F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR, with...
Bronze
Sold
H 10.5 in W 5.5 in
Jean-Baptiste Auguste Clesinger, French Bronze Bust of Jesus Christ, Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Queens, NY
A French Miniature patinated bronze bust of Jesus Christ on a round wood base, 1858. Signed: J CLESINGER. Rome. 1858 with F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEU...
Bronze
Sold
H 13 in W 9 in D 5 in
Jean-Baptiste Auguste Clesinger, French Bronze Bust of Jesus Christ, Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Queens, NY
An exceptional French patinated realistic bronze bust of Jesus Christ, 1858. Signed: J CLESINGER. Rome. 1858 with F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR, with the Red...
Bronze
Sold
H 10.5 in W 5 in D 4 in
An Extremley Rare Silvered Metal Bust of George Washington by F. Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Queens, NY
An Extremely Rare French Silvered Metal Bust of George Washington by Ferdinand Barbedienne Fondeur, Paris, circa 1880. Signed. F. Barbe...
Metal