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Henry Vian
An Unusual Pair of Gilt-Bronze Wall Appliques, Depicting Roman Warriors
£24,000
An Unusual Pair of Gilt-Bronze Wall Appliques Attributed to Henry Vian. This fine pair of twin-light wall appliques each have a backplate cast as a...
Dimensions
Height: 63 cm (25 in)Width: 36 cm (15 in)
Depth: 20 cm (8 in)
PrintDescription
An Unusual Pair of Gilt-Bronze Wall Appliques Attributed to Henry Vian.
This fine pair of twin-light wall appliques each have a backplate cast as a caryatid or herm figure in Roman armour with scrolling candle arms. They are almost certainly cast by the renowned Parisian bronzier Henry Vian and are of very fine quality with excellent casting and gilding.
Date
Circa 1880
Origin
France
Medium
Gilt-Bronze
Henry Vian (1860-1905) was a celebrated Parisian bronzier specialising in the production of bronzes in the eighteenth century style and interior ornamentation of great quality. His output was concerned principally with the production of light-fittings but also included other bronze items. Such was the quality of his work that his casting and gilding can often be mistaken for earlier eighteenth century works of art.
He participated in the Great Exhibitions of 1878, 1889 and 1900, receiving a Gold Medal in 1889. As a member of the jury with a status, hors concours, a measure of excellence, he was prohibited from competing in 1900.
His wife and son ran the business after his death in 1905 until 1944, when the city of Paris took over the premises for the l’Ecole des Métiers d’Art.
Bibliography:
Verlet, Pierre. Les Bronzes Dorés Français du XVIIIe siècle, Picard, (Paris), 1987; p.342-4.
Devaux, Yves. L‚’Univers des Bronzes, Pygmalion, (Paris), 1978.
