Bronze-caster
(1828-c.1890)
(attributed to)

A neo-Egyptian clock

Height : 46 cm (18 in.); Width : 39 cm (15 ^1/3 in.) ; Depth : 17 cm (6 ^2/3 in.)

A black and red marble clock in the shape of an Egyptian temple, flanked by double columns inscribed with hieroglyphs and ornated with a winged uraeus, all made in two patina bronze. The clock is surmounted by a patinated bronze sphinx. Resting on four bronze faces wearing the nemes and terminating in lion paw feet.

Biography

Georges Emile Henri Servant (1828-c.1890) who took over his father in 1855 at their foundry, rue Vieille-du-Temple, in Paris, specialized in the production of neo-Egyptian style clocks, very popular in France since 1860’s, and also the making of Greek style decorative objects. He drew considerable attention to the high quality of his bronzes at the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition and then at the 1862 London Exhibition. At this time Servant exported up to 40% of his production, principally to the United States, where for instance, his sphinx clocks were sold with great success by Louis Tiffany Inc. or Hamann & Roche of New York (A similar clock is now exposed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York). But his success came really at the 1867 Paris Universal Exhibition, where he was awarded a gold medal for his neo-Greek and Egyptian works (Les Merveilles de l’Exposition Universelle de 1867, t. II, p° 165 & 167). He was even awarded in 1874 the « Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur », France’s hightest official mark of recognition. Servant participated once again successfully at the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, where he not only exhibited vases and small bronze pieces of furniture, but was also a member of the jury for the class of bronze pieces of art. He finally retired shortly before the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition.

Museology

Decorative objects by Servant exhibited in the United States :
– The Metropolitan Museum, New York.
– The High Museum, Atlanta.

Bibliography

Les Merveilles de l’Exposition Universelle de 1867, t. II, p° 165 & 167.
Exposition Universelle de 1878, Rapport sur les bronzes d’art, Groupe III, Classe 25, p° 26.
“La petite sculpture au XIXe s. Les éditeurs”, Bernard Metman, Archives de l’Art français, 1989, t. XXX, p° 210.

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Bronze-caster
(1828-c.1890)
(attributed to)

Important caryatid planters

France
Circa 1875

Patinated and gilt bronze, black marble

Tallest caryatid – Height : 225 cm (88.6 in.) ; Width : 65 cm (25.6 in.) ; Depth : 40 cm (15,7 in.)
Two smaller caryatids – Height : 183 cm (72 in.) ; Width : 55 cm (21.6 in.) ; Depth : 21 cm (8,3 in.)

An outstanding set of three monumental black marble and bronze caryatid planters in the Greek style. All three are caryatid terms on pedestal: the tallest one is shaped as a Grecian woman with her antique drapery and gilt bronze ornaments, such as belt, necklace, headband and garlands, surmounted by an Ionic capital supporting a large planter adorned with foliage pattern and a vase in patinated and gilt bronze. Two smaller planters complete the set, using the same ornamental patterns: the Grecian head with necklace and garlands, the pedestal enriched with inlaid ears, and at the top, the planter adorned with foliage and rings, resting on an Ionic capital.

These monumental caryatid planters might have been commissioned by a French collector for his Parisian Hôtel particulier. The style of the figures evocates the contemporaneous sculptures of the Opéra Garnier in Paris (c.1875), and the works Servant exhibited at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1878.

Biography

Georges Emile Henri Servant (1828-c.1890), who took over his father in 1855 at their foundry, rue Vieille-du-Temple, in Paris, specialized in the production of neo-Egyptian style clocks, very popular in France since 1860’s, and also the making of Greek style decorative objects. He drew considerable attention to the high quality of his bronzes at the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition and then at the 1862 London Exhibition. At this time Servant exported up to 40% of his production, principally to the United States. But his success came really at the 1867 Paris Universal Exhibition, where he was awarded a gold medal for his neo-Greek works. Servant was even awarded in 1874 the « Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur », France’s highest official mark of recognition. Servant participated once again successfully at the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, where he not only exhibited vases and small bronze pieces of furniture, but was also a member of the jury for the class of bronze pieces of art. He finally retired shortly before the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition.

Bibliography

Les Merveilles de l’Exposition Universelle de 1867, t. II, p° 165 & 167.

The Art Journal Catalogue of the Paris Universelle Exposition of 1867, London, 1867, p° 20.

Exposition Universelle de 1878, Rapport sur les bronzes d’art, Groupe III, Classe 25, p° 26.

The post G. Servant <br/> Important caryatid Planters appeared first on Tobogan Antiques.

Bronze-caster
(1828-c.1890)
(attributed to)

Pair of neo-Greek floor lamps

France
Circa 1870

Patinated bronze

Height : 183 cm (72 in.) ; 213 cm (83,8 in.) with glass shades ; Diameter : 43 cm (16,9 in.)

Rare pair of Greek style floor lamps made in patinated bronze, each surmounted of a frosted glass globe engraved of stars and a Greek motif frieze. The body of the vase, decorated with Greek style patterns such as palmets, Greek motif frieze and water leaves, stands on a shaft decorated with deer heads. Fine chains are connected to a delicate butterfly. The set is based on tripod legs with lion claw feet alternating large palmets.

Biography

Georges Emile Henri Servant (1828-c.1890), who took over his father in 1855 at their foundry, rue Vieille-du-Temple, in Paris, specialized in the production of neo-Egyptian style clocks, very popular in France since 1860’s, and also the making of Greek style decorative objects. He drew considerable attention to the high quality of his bronzes at the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition and then at the 1862 London Exhibition. At this time Servant exported up to 40% of his production, principally to the United States, where for instance, his clocks were sold with great success by Louis Tiffany Inc. or Hamann & Roche of New York. But his success came really at the 1867 Paris Universal Exhibition, where he was awarded a gold medal for his neo-Greek and Egyptian works (Les Merveilles de l’Exposition Universelle de 1867, t. II, p° 165 & 167). He was even awarded in 1874 the « Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur », France’s hightest official mark of recognition. Servant participated once again successfully at the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, where he not only exhibited vases and small bronze pieces of furniture, but was also a member of the jury for the class of bronze pieces of art. He finally retired shortly before the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition.

The post G. Servant<br />Pair of neo-Greek floor lamps appeared first on Tobogan Antiques.