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 prizes. 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 antique Ferdinand Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and more.
$8,865Sale Price|44% Off
19th Century Rare French Mantel Clock by F. Barbedienne with Bronze Figures
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Sofia, BG
French mantel clock by Ferdinand Barbedienne consisting of a terminal clock in the form of a fluted column in white marble and de...
Marble, Bronze
Marble, Gilt, and Patinated Bronze Three-Piece Clock Set by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Marble, gilt, and patinated bronze three-piece clock set by Barbedienne French, late 19th century Measures: Clock: Height 93cm, width 60cm, depth 28cm Candelabra: Height 97cm, width 46cm, depth 33cm This monumental marble, gilt, and patinated bronze three-piece set is a stunning example of Barbedienne's craftsmanship during the Parisian Belle Époque. Paul Dubois' 'Le Courage Militaire...
Griotte Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Three-Piece Clock Set by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Comprising a central clock and a pair of flanking candelabra, the ormolu clock with circular dial and roman numbers signed 'F. Barbedienne', decorated with foliate scrolls and shells, surmounted by a putto, the pair of flanking three light candelabra similarly decorated on scrolling feet. The elegance of this beautiful antique ormolu clock...
Bronze
$59,700 / set
H 32 in W 16 in D 12 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock Set
By Raingo Frères
Located in New York, NY
A Magnificent Large Antique French 19th Century Ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble clock set of exquisite craftsmanship. This spectacular clock set is comprising a pair of very large ni...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Magnificent Gilt Bronze and Marble Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt bronze and marble clock featuring a lion. Marble case, ornate face with enameled Roman numerals. France, circa 1880 Dime...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French mantel clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French gilded ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock, having a seated cherub holding the rains of a winged dragon pulling a scrolling foliate ...
Ormolu
$19,500 / set
H 25 in W 17 in D 9 in
Nice Late 19th Century Gilt and Patinated Bronze Three Piece Clock Set
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Nice Late 19th Century Gilt and Patinated Bronze Three Piece Clock Set The heavily bronze mounted clock with three putti, bronze designs of flowers, birds and instruments, sitting...
Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock Freres Paris
Located in New York, NY
Style of Robert Osmond, circa 1776. Movement signed 'Freres, Paris,' third quarter of the 19th century.
Bronze
$1,696Sale Price|63% Off
H 21.66 in W 14.18 in D 5.91 in
19th Century French Bronze Gilt Mantel Clock with Glass Dome
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A superb quality 19th century French bronze gilt mantel clock, retaining its original glass dome, and adorned with a finely detailed rustic female figure in period dress, reclining o...
Bronze
$2,010Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 18.51 in W 5.91 in D 14.97 in
Antique French Bronze & Marble Three-Piece Mantel Set Clock Napoleon III
Located in Labrit, Landes
Napoleon III French two marbles mantel clock late 19th century circa 1890. Set of a clock and two pedestals. Mercury pendulum The French movement of the clock will be checked befor...
Marble, Brass
A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in Sheffield, MA
With a circular white enamel dial, surmounted by swags and ending with a woman’s face. Morbiere Movement
$3,905
H 12.21 in W 9.45 in D 3.94 in
19th Century Louis XVI Style Bronze Ormolu Mantel Clock Garniture
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A very fine Louis XVI style figural mantel clock with matching flanking candelabra. The clock is bronze casted and has an ormolu f...
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$46,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 27.25 in W 22.5 in D 27.25 in
Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mantel Clock by Henri Picard & Fedinand Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine French 19th Century Gilt-Bronze Figural Mantel Clock, Horloge à Poser, by Henri Picard and Fedinand Barbedienne - ‘F. Barbédienne & Cie. / A Paris’, after the model by É...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Rococo Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu Louis XVI style mantel clock, having wonderful scrolling foliate decoration in the Rococo style, garlands of flowers draped eith...
Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Alabaster Mantel Clock
Located in Astoria, NY
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Alabaster Portico Mantel Clock, late 19th century, the circular enamel dial, with strike on bell movement, surmounted by an urn and supported by four flute...
Alabaster, Enamel, Ormolu