French 19th Century Cast Iron Fountain Of A Young Boy Holding A Dolphin

A beautiful and extremely charming French 19th century cast iron fountain of a young boy holding a dolphin. The fountain is raised by a square base with concave corners and an elegan...

A charming and highly detailed French 19th century cast iron statue of a young boy playing the horn and holding a flute, signed 'A. DURENNE, Paris'. The statue is raised by a circula...

A striking French 19th century cast iron statue of a young centurion. The statue is raised by a square base where he stands next to a tree stump. The handsome figure stands with his ...

A beautiful and very high quality true pair of French 19th century cast iron statues of two young boys playing flutes signed A. Durenne sommevoire. Each statue is raised by a circula...

A very attractive pair of large scale French mid 19th century cast iron maidens representing summer and winter. Each maiden is draped in a classical dress, one with a head scarf hold...

A handsome and most impressive true pair of French 19th century patinated cast iron dog statues. Each statue is raised by a rectangular base where...

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...

Behold the stately elegance of this 19th Century French Cast Iron Sculpture, a stunning representation of classic beauty and enduring craftsmanship. The sculpture, with its weathered...

This evocative 19th Century French Cast Iron Sculpture captures the profound emotion and exquisite detail synonymous with the era's artistry. The figure, robed in beautifully sculpte...

This 19th Century French Cast Iron Sculpture exudes the spirit of the Romantic era with its evocative depiction of a pensive figure. The artistry of the sculpture is evident in the e...

A pair of 19th century cast iron female figures holding pestle and mortar. A lovely pair of figures, they are very heavy each of the figures is holding ...

A bold 19th century American cast iron bear sculpture with wonderful attention to detail including expressive facial muscles, thick fur, and anatomically cor...