Ref. 2022

H. Vian

Bronze-Caster (1860-1905)
(attributed to)

Chandelier and its wall-lights

France
Circa 1890

Porcelain, Metal, Gilded bronze

Chandelier – Height : 90 cm (35,4 in.) ; Diameter : 54 cm (21,2 in.)
Wall-lights – Height : 55 cm (21,6 in.) ; Width : 25 cm (9,8 in.) ; Depth : 12 cm (4,7 in.)

Charming set composed of a four-light chandelier and two matching sconces with two lights, each composed of a gilded bronze and openwork basket imitating wicker, from which springs a bouquet made of polychrome porcelain flowers and painted sheet metal leaves, the bouquet of the chandelier lit by three lights. A knotted rope connects the handle to the knot forming the ceiling light.

This set is inspired by the porcelain flower models of Meissen, the first factory in Europe to manufacture them in the 18th century, and the Vincennes Manufacture around 1741 then Sèvres.

Bouquet of the Dauphine Marie-Joseph of Saxony by the Manufacture de Vincennes and Jean-Claude Duplessis, circa 1749, offererd to her father Auguste III elector of Saxony. It belongs to the National Collections in Dresden, Germany (inv. P.E.707)

Biography

Henri Vian, a bronze-caster active in the second half of the 19th Century, made a lot of interior decorations with chimney mantelpieces, ormolu and patinated-mounted vases, chandeliers… He produced articles of the highest quality. The business, located at 5 rue de Thorigny in Paris (the Salé Mansion, now the Picasso Museum), was continued by Madame Vian after her husband’s death in 1905.