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.
French Neoclassical Ormolu Amphora/Urn with Bacchanalia Motif by F. Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry, Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 19th century Neoclassical gilt bronze ormolu amphora/urn with Bacchanalia decoration and marble base by Ferdinand Barbedienne, France By: Ferdinand Barbedienne Material: bronze...
Stone, Marble, Metal, Bronze, Copper, Ormolu, Tin
$5,074
H 12.21 in W 6.7 in D 5.91 in
French Onyx and Champlevé Urns by Ferdinand Barbedienne, Circa 1875
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING PAIR OF LATE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH ONYX AND CHAMPLEVÉ URNS WITH ORMOLU MOUNTS ATTRIBUTED TO BARBEDIENNE From our Decorative collection, we are pleased to offe...
Onyx, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
$15,700
H 5 in W 8 in D 5 in
Ferdinand Barbedienne, A French Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Jardiniere, C. 1870
By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Louis-Constant Sevin
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Ferdinand Barbedienne, A French Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Jardiniere, C. 1870, The Design Attributed to Louis Constant Sevin. An exceptional qualit...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
$15,700
H 5 in W 8 in D 5 in
Ferdinand Barbedienne, a French Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Jardiniere, C. 1870
By Louis-Constant Sevin, Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Ferdinand Barbedienne, A French Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Jardiniere, C. 1870, The Design Attributed to Louis Constant Sevin. An exceptional qualit...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
$2,450
H 17 in Dm 7.5 in
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Cut Crystal Bronze Ormolu Urn Centerpiece
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical cut crystal and bronze ormolu mounted urn with lady figure handles centerpiece.
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
$2,450
H 17 in Dm 7.5 in
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Cut Crystal Bronze Ormolu Urn Centerpiece
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical cut crystal and bronze ormolu mounted urn with lady figure handles centerpiece.
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Italian 19th Neoclassical Scagloiola and Ormolu Urn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. Scagliola and ormolu urn. The urn is raised by a square base below the mottled socle shaped pedestal su...
Ormolu
$46,300
H 5 in W 8 in D 5 in
F. Barbedienne, A Suite of Three French Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Jardinieres
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Ferdinand Barbedienne, An Exquisite Suite of Three French Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Jardinieres / Garniture C. 1870, The Design Attributed to Louis Constant Sevin. Comprising of t...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
$19,600 / set
H 12.75 in W 8.25 in D 8.25 in
Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Marble and Ormolu Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional pair of French 19th century neo-classical st. Brèche Verte d'Egypte marble and ormolu lidded urns. Each urn is raised by richly chased ormolu paw feet with acanthus le...
Marble, Ormolu
Ormolu and Cloisonné Enamel Jardinière Attributed to F. Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in London, GB
The large central circular form cloisonne enamel jardinière decorated with vari colored plum flowers and butterflies on a blue ground, with a pierced ormolu rim featuring a pineapple motif resting on a finely cast ormolu base with four legs in the form of winged Foo lions. The ormolu French, the enamel Chinese. This impressive jardinie`re is very much in the manner of objects in enamel produced by Ferdinand Barbedienne in Paris in the last quarter of the 19th century which proved universally popular. Often these pieces were designed by Edouard Lievre (d. 1886) in the Oriental taste. Ferdinand Barbedienne was a famous French metal worker and manufacturer. He presided over one of the most renowned and prolific foundries of Belle Époque Paris. His atelier created sculptures, clocks and bronze mounts of the highest quality, and his works were shown at numerous international exhibitions of the period, where he was rewarded with many medals. Among them the Grande Me´daille d'Honneur, in Paris in 1855 is particularly noteworthy. In 1838 he associated with the engineer Achille Collas (1795-1859) who had just invented a process to reproduce statues at a smaller scale. Together they founded in 1839 the company "Collas et Barbedienne" to reproduce casts of both contemporary artists and Greek and Roman antiquities. While working with Collas, Barbedienne actively pursued contracts with many sculptors of Paris contracting with David D'Angers, Jean-Baptiste Clesinger, and even producing some casts for Antoine Louis Barye as well as others. From 1860 to the years 1890, Barbedienne, eager to research new processes, experimented new techniques in champleve´ and cloisonne´-enamels, to compete with Japanese importations, very fashionable then. When Collas died in 1859, the business was left to Barbedienne as sole owner. The company who had over 300 employees was prosperous as well in the field of reproductions as in its department specialized in the casting of monumental bronzes. In 1865, he was appointed President of the Reunion of Bronze Makers until 1885. After the 1870 war...
Enamel, Ormolu
$4,631Sale Price / set|50% Off
H 5.91 in W 9.45 in D 5.91 in
19th Century Pair of French Bronze Vases by F. Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Sofia, BG
A wonderful pair of bronze vases with high relief by Bardedienne. France, circa 1870.
Bronze
$14,800 / set
H 9.5 in Dm 5.75 in
Pair of F. Barbedienne Ormolu and Champlevé Enamel Vases w/ Griffin Heads, Paris
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of 19th Century, Napoleon III, French F. Barbedienne Signed Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Tri-Footed Vases, with Mythical Beast/Dragon Heads Each vase is formed with a flared t...
Bronze, Enamel
$65,700
H 9 in W 18.5 in D 12 in
Exquisite Neo-Grec Ormolu & Champleve Enamel Jardiniere by Barbedienne & Sévin
By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Louis-Constant Sevin
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A French Neo-Grec Ormolu and Champlevé Enamel Jardinière by Ferdinand Barbedienne and Louis-Constant Sévin, circa 1870 An outstanding ormolu-mounted and champlevé enamel jardinière,...
Enamel, Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XVI Marble and Gilt Bronze Urns
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of fine 19th century French Louis XVI tripod marble and gilt bronze urns with lids. Signed F. Barbedienne. Ram's head detail.
Marble
Sold
H 18 in W 7.5 in D 7.5 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Belle ÉPoque Urns, Signed F. Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period Rouge Griotte marble and ormolu urns, signed F. Barbedienne. Each exquisite urn is raised by a...