Claude Boeltz, Bronze Eclaté Candleabras, France, circa 1970s

This side table, modeled after one of Boeltz's mature Eclaté pieces, possesses and arresting gilt bronze base mimicking lightning in hue, form, and arrangement. At the base’s centre ...

Painter, theatrical and industrial designer, Georges de Feure was closely associated with Sigfried Bing who was key in the introduction of the art nouveau movement. Composed of chara...

A pair of bronze candlesticks with the playful intimation of flames where the candles are placed. Stamped: MB Inscribed: M Bankowsky A designer and decorator for over 20 years, Mar...

A pair of bronze candlesticks with the playful intimation of flames where the candles are placed. Stamped: MB Inscribed: M Bankowsky A designer and decorator for over 20 years, Mar...

Beautiful Claude Victor Boeltz Letter Opener , circa 1970, France. Gilt exploded bronze, metal blade. Dimensions: 24 cm W, 5 cm H, 7 cm D. Boeltz’s "exploded-bronze" pieces, made fam...

A French 1970s sculptural bronze gold dipped frame with three large crystal clusters by the artist, Claude Victor Boeltz. The frame can be arranged horizo...

Exceptional rare candelabra centerpiece model No. 16, 24-karat plated "exploded bronze" design with rock crystals and glass center bowl, by Claude Victor Boeltz, France 1970s (signed...

A French 1970s Gold and bronze clam shell center peice sculpture with three large quartz and amethyst crystal clusters. Signed Biography: Claude Boeltz was born in Paris in 1937. The fourth generation in a line of artists, from his early childhood Boeltz was interested in disciplines as far ranging as sculpture, painting, ceramics, architecture, and blacksmithing. From the very start he was fascinated by what would become life long inspirations—anatomy and geology. His first apprenticeship was with the sculptor Henri Molins, which was followed by apprenticeships at the prominent Susse and Houdot foundries. His last was with Soudoun, under whose tutelage he was honored with the national “Best Worker in France” award. During these apprenticeships Boeltz took night classes at the Boule School, the Gambetta School, and at the Academy of Art in Paris. He would eventually take degrees from all three. On Sundays he went to museums, particularly the Louvre, where he sought out work in the Louis XIII - Louis XVI styles. He also spent long hours in study of the many artists he admired, such as Bersus, Meunier, Giacometti, Ponpon, Chipparus, Dali, Dajou, and Ruhlman. After these apprenticeships he tried to establish himself in the Riviera, where he befriended, and briefly collaborated with Picasso. Boeltz’s time in this vibrant community was, however, cut short—in the early 1960s he was called into the French military. While on tour in the Sahara he carved miniatures, and would carry them in his baggage from base to base. One that survived—a replica of the Arc d’triumph—was later offered to President Eisenhower on behalf of the French Army. Upon leaving the service Boeltz established a foundry in the Loire, and by the late 1960s his work, now enormously popular, was shown all over Europe. In the early 1970s he met the sculptor Cesar. The famous sculptor’s “compression” pieces inspired Boeltz to create the work for which he would soon become best known. Boeltz’s “exploded” bronze works were pieces plated with 24 karat gold made to look like liquid gold crystalized an instant after explosion. Boeltz augmented this unique medium with vibrant details, often with African emeralds, but with other stones or unusual materials as well. In his famous Cleopatra, dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor and installed in Georve V hotel in Paris, the artist employed metacrylite as a base and for its veil. The immediate success of these “exploded” works allowed Boeltz to build two foundries devoted largely to their creation, one in the Faubourg St. Honore’ in Paris, and the other in Fontenay Sous Bois. “Exploded” works from the foundries were presented and sold at Fred’s Jewelers...