A Life-Size Pair French Cast-Iron Torchères Sculptures Juggler & Serpent Charmer

A superb quality and palatial pair of French 19th century lifesize cast-iron sculptures - torcheres of Native American Indians titled "L’ Indienne" designed by Jules Salmson (French, 1823-1902) and Cast by Le Fonderies d'Art du Val d'Osne, each standing figure representing a Native American Indian male and a female scantily dressed in their native robes, one arm raised holding a light-torch with an opaline glass globe, both wearing earrings, seashell necklaces and arm-braces, raised on cylindrical cast-iron stand. Signed/cast on each pedestal: “VAL D’OSNE”. (Electrified). Paris, circa 1870-1880. Overall hHeight: 127 inches (322.6 cm) Pedestal height: 39 inches (99.1 cm) Indian man's width: 22 inches (55.9 cm) Indian man's depth: 26 3/4 inches (68 cm) Indian woman's width: 28 inches (71.1 cm) Indian woman's depth: 25 inches (63.5 cm) These fantastic and impressive pair of cast-iron sculptures, most likely representing Hiawatha and Minnehaha, were probably comissioned to Le Fonderies d'Art du Val d'Osne for export to the America's to decorate governmental buildings and parks which makes these pair a rare find and now available for a private collection. Iron sculptures were preferred over bronze for outdoor park and building decorations for their long lasting resistance to all types of weather conditions. An identical pair of sculptures, also by Val d' Osne, are currently exhibited at the National Garden of Congress in Santiago, Chile. View Pages No. 87, 88, 89. Another identical pair are also currently exhibited at The Musée de la Ville - Indian Museum "O Indio do Museo da Cidade" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Another identical pair decorate the front of the Ópera Teatro Amazonas, Manaús, Brazil. A single figure of the female Indian...

A very fine and palatial French 19th-20th century allegorical figural cast-iron group torchere - sculpture - fountain - representing spring and the harvest, probably cast by Le Fonderies d'Art du Val d'Osne. The charming four-putti sculpture with a front standing putto holding a pole amongst wheat stalks, another putto kneeling and collecting wheat, a third one wearing a hat and picking flowers for a wreath and the fourth kneeling putto holding a bird's nest, all below an elongated classical stem with a glass globe (Electrified), circa: Paris, 1900. Overall height: 84 inches (213.4 cm). Width: 29 1/2 inches (74.9 cm). Circular base diameter: 24 inches (61 inches). 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 outdoor statuary...

A very fine pair of French 19th-20th century neoclassical style patinated cast iron figural torchères by A. Durenne, Paris, each representing a figure of a standing young maiden, her arms raised forward while holding a a flaming urn gas light (Now electrified) with a frosted glass flame, each raised on a veined grey marble column stand, both cast-signed 'A. Durenne, Paris'. Antoine Durenne was an internationally renowned French art founder. He attended École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1842. Durenne purchased a small foundry in Sommevoire, near the Val d'Osne, Haute-Marne, France and established The Durenne firm, circa Paris, 1900. 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 outdoor statuary...

Very fine and monumental pair of French 19th century patinated bronze figural torchere sculptures titled "La Nuit" (The Night) attributed to Albert Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824-188...

Monumental pair of French 19th century figural gilt and patinated bronze Rosso Granite marble Flambeaux Urns Torcheres, each depicting a pair of allegorical Putti (Children) holding ...

Antonio Tantardini (Italian, 1829-1879) An extraordinary Italian 19th century life size carved Carrara white marble sculpture of "A Young Child and a baby in a wicker crib...

Pair of life-size Classical female cast iron statues standing contrapposto and holding opaline globe lanterns. Almost life-size. By Val D'Osne, France, second half of the 19th cen...

A wonderful example of a hollow-cast bronze crocodile skull. This piece features wonderful detail and resemblance to a real specimen. An exotic piece c...

A life-size French mid-19th century cast iron statue of a semi clad pretty maiden wearing Classical Greek costume, standing over a broken jug whilst leaning on a wall, circa 1860.  

Wrought Iron Sculptures Of Life Size Flamingos DECORATIVE SCULPTURES FROM THE 1950s IN THE SHAPE OF 2 FLAMINGOS. HOT WORKED WROUGHT IRON AND GIANT SHELL BODY. THE EYES ARE IN TRANSLU...

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...