Ref. 1168/1

F. Barbedienne

Bronze-caster
(1810-1892)
(attributed to)

A neo-Gothic chandelier

France
Late 19th Century

Height : 125 cm (49,2 in.) ; Diameter : 45 cm (17,7 in.)

A three light arms and a centering light Gothic style chandelier, made in pierced and gilded bronze, with fine silvered metal plaques. Beautifully ornated with pinnacles, acanthuses, lilies and some further pierced rosaces. Suspended by three decorated chains linked to the architecture shaped top.

Biography

Born in 1810, died in Paris in 1892, Ferdinand Barbedienne, the most important caster of bronze pieces of art during the second half of the 19th Century, created and directed in Paris one of the principle artistic foundries of his day. Their illustrated catalogues included many diverse objects such as busts, ornemental sculpture (clocks, candelabras, cups) sometimes even life-sized and also bronzes for furniture. Apart from his own production, Barbedienne worked for the most renowned sculptors such as Barrias, Clésinger and Carrier-Belleuse. All his works were highly esteemed and he, himself honored by contemporary critics. s. Barbedienne was made an officer of the Légion d’Honneur in 1867 and Commander in 1878 when he was compared with « a prince of industry and the king of bronze casting ». His glory did not decline with the passage of the time for at the Universal Exhibition of 1889 the critics thanked Barbedienne for the example he set for other bronze-casters by the perfection of his bronzes.