A Belle Epoque Gilt-Bronze Fire Screen

Description

A Belle Epoque Gilt-Bronze Fire Screen, Attributed to Bouhon Frères.

The cartouche-shaped frame cornered by espagnolettes and centred by a trophy emblematic of love. With mesh screen.

France, Circa 1900.

This elegant fire screen is designed in an exuberant interpretation of the Louis XV style reminiscent of the sculptor Léon Messagé’s designs for François Linke circa 1900. The model is known to have been made by Bouhon Frères who was awarded a gold medal for his andirons and fire screens at the International Exhibition in Liège in 1905. A fire screen by Bouhon Frères matching this description sold for the collection of Emile Winter at Park Bernet Galleries, New York, 15-17 January 1942, lot 378.

Bouhon Frères

Established by Édouard Bouhon, the ‘fabricante de bronzes’ had premises at 12 Debelleyme, Paris, and is recorded at the 1878 Paris Exhibition and the Exposition of d’Art Contemporain at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs (Palais des Tuileries, Pavillon de Flore) in 1879. At the 1889 Paris Exhibition, M. Bouhon was a member of the jury. Ownership of Société Bouhon et Cie was transferred by Dame Vve. Bouhon to their sons Thomas and Joseph Bouchon in 1898. Bouhon were awarded a Gold Medal at the 1900 Paris Exhibition where they showed a fireplace with mirror overmantel, in the Louis XV Style, but of entirely original composition and were congratulated for the considerable effort and their entire exhibition, which also included a series of new models of andirons or screens. The auction of the Emile Winter collection included ‘Lot 378: Pair Bronze and Bronze Dore Chenets, and a Fire Screen, Louis XIV Style. Seated bronze figures of male and female fauns, upon leaf-scrolled and shellmolded Baroque plinths in gilded bronze, with lion-paw feet; by Bouhon Freres, Paris. Together with a cartouche-shaped fire screen enriched with female busts and pendent trophy of Love. (Park Bernet Galleries, New York, 15-17 January 1942).

Literature:
Rapports du Jury, international Exposition universelle 1900, Paris, ‘Bronzes, Fonte et Ferronnerie d’Art, Zinc d’Art, etc.’ (Group XV.) p. 486.