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Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

French, 1810-1892

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.

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Creator: Ferdinand Barbedienne
Ferdinand Barbedienne, Gilt Bronze Inkwell, 19th Century
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Madrid, ES
Title: Bronze Inkwell Date/Period: XIX century Dimension: 18 x 19 cm. Materials: Bronze, glass Additional information: Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892). Gilt bronze inkwell...
Category

Early 19th Century French Baroque Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Bronze

Ferdinand Barbedienne, Gilt Bronze Inkwell, 19th Century
Ferdinand Barbedienne, Gilt Bronze Inkwell, 19th Century

Ferdinand Barbedienne, Gilt Bronze Inkwell, 19th Century

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Ferdinand Barbedienne desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Ferdinand Barbedienne desks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Ferdinand Barbedienne desks, although gold editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks by Ferdinand Barbedienne were created in the Baroque style in france during the 19th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks by and Europa Antiques. Prices for Ferdinand Barbedienne desks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,664 and can go as high as $1,664, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,664.

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