DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1397#0053
PLATE 10.
CHASED SILVER CLOCKS AND YASE,
BY BABBEDIENNE, OF PAKIS.
HP HE largest of these clocks is executed in silver repousse and chased, from the design of
M. Constant Sevin, for the Exhibition of 1862 ; it is about two feet high, and its selling price was
stated to bo £580. The style is of a somewhat too exuberant Renaissance; but the fineness of execution
compensated in a measure for its intricacy. The small oblong panel over the dial contained a very
spirited reproduction of Luca della Robbia's group of singing-boys, one of the treasures of the Uffizii
at Florence. The other clock, by the same artist, of more graceful and appropriate design, was a
perfect miracle of delicate ciselure. Nothing could be finer than the arabesques of the pendent
drapery and the flowers of the wreaths. The vase is intended for a brule-parfum, and is a good
example of that peculiar development of the Greek style which has distinguished the ornamental
designs of Prance for the last few years, called " Neo-Grec." Amongst the manufacturers of
artistic work of every kind, the house of Barbedienne, which occupies one of the first, if not
the very first, place in Paris, was founded in the year 1838 : the furniture,, bronzes, enamels, &c,
produced by it having gone on year after year increasing in artistic merit. In 1851 Barbedienne
received two medals; and at Paris, in 1855, a large medal of honour. Collas's invaluable
patent for the mathematical reduction of sculpture is now his exclusive property, and is successfully
applied to a large collection of reproductions on a small scale of the greatest antique and modern
works. All classes of work—founding, bronze manufactory, enamelling, marble-work, &c.—are
executed by a numerous staff on the premises in the Rue de Lancry, at Paris. Nor can we wonder
at his success, when we find him assisted by such men as Olesinger, sculptor; Manguin, architect;
Gilbert, director of the works; and E. Phoenix, sculptor; to all of whom first-class medals have been
awarded as co-operating in the good work.
Second-class medals have been awarded to MM. Lecompte, his principal chaser; Leblanc,
mounter; Guyon, cabinet-maker; and Blugeot, foreman of Collas's reductions; whilst MM. Lerou-
villois, chaser; Maxime Bette, mounter; Bichon and Besson, cabinet-makers, have received honour-
able mention. It is true that M. Barbedienne is the guiding spirit of the establishment; but not
only does he not take upon himself the entire merit of its productions, but he is anxious to make
public the names of those artists and workmen on whom he necessarily depends for success.
We would earnestly plead for the same extension of justice to working artists and artisans in this
country : some advance, it is true, has been made in the right direction, and our principal houses
permit the names of their designers to appear, especially if they are men of note, mention of whom
is likely to add value to their productions ; but they should go further. It is not enough merely to do
this, and to be most unwilling, as I am sorry to say is too often the case even with our first
manufacturers, to let the names of the handicraftsmen receive due honour. It is a short-sighted and
selfish policy, one which we denounce, not only as unjust to the workmen, but as not in any way raising
the artistic character of the manufacturer himself; for he is known to be the producer only, and is
not, as a rule, either the designer or artificer of his own works. An acknowledgment of the services
of such men before the public would be one of the most stimulating motives for their doing well and
their well-doing, insuring them the credit of such works, or portions of work, as they may have exe-
cuted, and conferring on them a certain sense of dignity in their peculiar calling. Public approval or
disapproval, in the present day, when the press permeates all classes of society, is the most powerful
agent for good, and we feel assured would tend to raise the skilled workman in his own and others'
estimation as an active co-operator in producing works of art, instead of losing his individuality
and sense of responsibility in the fortune or fame of any one particular house. This principle is
acted on to a great extent by the French, and is no doubt one of the great causes of their success
in manufacturing art: we hope before long it will be the custom of our own country as well.
CHASED SILVER CLOCKS AND YASE,
BY BABBEDIENNE, OF PAKIS.
HP HE largest of these clocks is executed in silver repousse and chased, from the design of
M. Constant Sevin, for the Exhibition of 1862 ; it is about two feet high, and its selling price was
stated to bo £580. The style is of a somewhat too exuberant Renaissance; but the fineness of execution
compensated in a measure for its intricacy. The small oblong panel over the dial contained a very
spirited reproduction of Luca della Robbia's group of singing-boys, one of the treasures of the Uffizii
at Florence. The other clock, by the same artist, of more graceful and appropriate design, was a
perfect miracle of delicate ciselure. Nothing could be finer than the arabesques of the pendent
drapery and the flowers of the wreaths. The vase is intended for a brule-parfum, and is a good
example of that peculiar development of the Greek style which has distinguished the ornamental
designs of Prance for the last few years, called " Neo-Grec." Amongst the manufacturers of
artistic work of every kind, the house of Barbedienne, which occupies one of the first, if not
the very first, place in Paris, was founded in the year 1838 : the furniture,, bronzes, enamels, &c,
produced by it having gone on year after year increasing in artistic merit. In 1851 Barbedienne
received two medals; and at Paris, in 1855, a large medal of honour. Collas's invaluable
patent for the mathematical reduction of sculpture is now his exclusive property, and is successfully
applied to a large collection of reproductions on a small scale of the greatest antique and modern
works. All classes of work—founding, bronze manufactory, enamelling, marble-work, &c.—are
executed by a numerous staff on the premises in the Rue de Lancry, at Paris. Nor can we wonder
at his success, when we find him assisted by such men as Olesinger, sculptor; Manguin, architect;
Gilbert, director of the works; and E. Phoenix, sculptor; to all of whom first-class medals have been
awarded as co-operating in the good work.
Second-class medals have been awarded to MM. Lecompte, his principal chaser; Leblanc,
mounter; Guyon, cabinet-maker; and Blugeot, foreman of Collas's reductions; whilst MM. Lerou-
villois, chaser; Maxime Bette, mounter; Bichon and Besson, cabinet-makers, have received honour-
able mention. It is true that M. Barbedienne is the guiding spirit of the establishment; but not
only does he not take upon himself the entire merit of its productions, but he is anxious to make
public the names of those artists and workmen on whom he necessarily depends for success.
We would earnestly plead for the same extension of justice to working artists and artisans in this
country : some advance, it is true, has been made in the right direction, and our principal houses
permit the names of their designers to appear, especially if they are men of note, mention of whom
is likely to add value to their productions ; but they should go further. It is not enough merely to do
this, and to be most unwilling, as I am sorry to say is too often the case even with our first
manufacturers, to let the names of the handicraftsmen receive due honour. It is a short-sighted and
selfish policy, one which we denounce, not only as unjust to the workmen, but as not in any way raising
the artistic character of the manufacturer himself; for he is known to be the producer only, and is
not, as a rule, either the designer or artificer of his own works. An acknowledgment of the services
of such men before the public would be one of the most stimulating motives for their doing well and
their well-doing, insuring them the credit of such works, or portions of work, as they may have exe-
cuted, and conferring on them a certain sense of dignity in their peculiar calling. Public approval or
disapproval, in the present day, when the press permeates all classes of society, is the most powerful
agent for good, and we feel assured would tend to raise the skilled workman in his own and others'
estimation as an active co-operator in producing works of art, instead of losing his individuality
and sense of responsibility in the fortune or fame of any one particular house. This principle is
acted on to a great extent by the French, and is no doubt one of the great causes of their success
in manufacturing art: we hope before long it will be the custom of our own country as well.