Richmond Barthé Furniture

A Fine and Large French 19th Century Cast-Iron Fountain Figure Modeled as a Nude Maiden Seated on a Rocky Outcrop Holding a Cornucopia in Her Raised Right Hand, by J.J Ducel. Cast-Signed "J.J. DUCEL Me de FORGES, PARIS". Circa: Paris, 1880. A retailer of fine cast-iron ornaments, J. J. Ducel was recorded as supplying cast-iron works through Paris as early as 1810 in the Pas-de-Calais. The factory was sold in 1878 to the Fonderie de la Haute-Marne and all of the firm's models were subsequently bought by the Val d'Osne foundry. However, prior to the firm's sale, critics at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle proclaimed that "Ducel is the great manufacturer of works in cast-iron, to whom Paris is so largely indebted for the grace and elegance that supply so many of the adornments of its streets". Ducel, Val d'Osne and other associated foundries produced both bronze and cast-iron statuary. Cast-iron is corrosive, whereas non-ferrous bronze does not suffer the same detrimental effects of weathering and is therefore a superior and more expensive material. Height: 51 1/2 inches (130.8 cm) Width: 22 inches (55.9 cm) Depth: 30 inches (76.2 cm) The foundry of Val d'Osne became highly regarded for the varied nature and quality of its castings in the second half of the 19th century. Commonly known after 1870 as simply Val D'Osne, the company was originally founded by J.P.V. André in Val d'Osne 1835 and developed rapidly, absorbing smaller foundries in the Haute-Marne area east of Paris. The foundry contributed to the London International Exhibition of 1851, where a bronze fountain cast with classical figures attracted much attention. André also specialised in fancy castings and architectural fittings. His Paris adress was at 14 Rue Neuve, Menilmontant. In 1855 the Barbezat & Cie Foundry was born out of the André workshop. In 1867 Barbezat & Cie changed its name to Houille & Cie. Then, in 1870, it changed its name to Société Anonyme du Val d'Osne. With the change of name came the change of casting mark and adress: Fonderies d'Art du Val d'Osne, 58 Bd Voltaire, Paris or simply Val d'Osne. Cast-iron had been in production during the 18th century but its inferior status to the more fashionable and delicate wrought-iron had generally confined its use to architectural work. By the early 19th century, however, rapid developments of the Industrial Revolution combined with the simultaneous burgeoning of a new middle class provided the impetus for a dramatic expansion in its application and in a short space of time a proliferation of iron foundries across Europe and America thrived on the production of everything from inkstands to railway stations. The use of cast-iron for garden ornament became particularly widespread at this time, as the possibilities for its mass-production at a fraction of the cost of bronze made it the material of choice for indoor/outdoor statuary...

Bronze of an iconic Draped Male Nude Athlete by Raoul Francois Larche (French, 1860–1922), signed on base "R Larche.". Introducing an iconic bronze s...

The Following Item is An Outstanding Fine Patinaed Beautiful Estate Bronze Sculpture of a Woman Holding a Book behind her Back. Woman is featured with Finely Carved Sculpting and a B...

Italian Art Deco Bronze Sculpture Of A Nude Male. We offer a handsome Italian bronze sculpture of a reclining nude male that dates to the 1940's. Beautiful form and great patina!

A hollow finely carved wood macaque figure dressed as a human with short green hair, a blue jacket and yellow slacks. He stands and holds a walking stick in his left hand and crosses...

MARKINGS Signed ‘AMEN’ IRVING AMEN (American, 1918-2011) was one of the most versatile American artists of any era, creating oil paintings, woodcuts, linocuts, etchings, engravin...

A vintage wood framed photograph from Bali, Indonesia with a glass front. The black & white photo captures a young balinese boy in traditional ceremonial attire rehearsing for a perf...

Pierre Le Faguays (1892-1962) An Impressive and very large 43" high French Art Deco bronze figure of a young athletic man, adorned in scanty attire, almost nude, standing proudly at...

A typically Italian Art Deco Triart Bassano pottery figure of a seated nude dating between 1930 and 1950. The lightly potted figure sits on a moulded ro...

Vintage photograph of an unknown abstract sculptor.

Early Leo Sewell Assembledge. Sculpture, seated male figure, signed and dated, 1977. A charming array of whimsical found objects, Italian chair included.

Truly unique pair of gilt bronze table candelabras by Henri Picard of Paris, France. These amazingly sculptural antique candelabras for more than one reason have the wow factor. First of all, they are made by one of the most famous and celebrated metal workers and 'fondeurs' of mid 19th century Paris. This artisan was commissioned by many important 'patrons', but Henri Picard’s most notable achievement was to supply Napoleon 3rd with various decorative antiques, some of which are still in the State Apartment of the Louvre Museum. The second reason why these candelabras are in a league of their own is the subject matter. Almost all Belle Epoque antiques have classical-world subject matters, but this pair clearly is different and it is this difference that makes this pair even more unique and remarkable. It is almost as if Henri Picard had already caught a glimpse of what was to come three or four decades later. We say so, because the subject matter (with animals and lotus or lily leafs and their organic design) is almost Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts in style. At the base of each of these candelabras are three endearing frog sculptures crouching under lotus leafs. A little further up the stem are a snail, a fly and a beetle sculpture, three creatures that regularly are on the frogs menu. And with the importance of frogs in French culture these candelabras also are of cultural historical significance. The third reason why we believe these works of art are of museum quality are the details. Besides the amphibian, mollusk and insects sculptures, you simply cannot overlook the remarkable details in the leafs, the branches and the floral decorations. They are of a quality and beauty that will make people want to stop, to look at and to study them. Like they would in a museum. Even all the original and removable bobeches AND the two bronze candle extinguishers...