DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1397#0164
PLATE 47.
A CHIMNEY-PIECE,
1SY II. FOURDIXOIS, PARIS.
ll/TESSRS. FOURDINOIS, "father and son, with M. Barbddienne and M. Grohe, were
among the few manufacturers whom the International Jury desired to distinguish in a
special manner, when they expressed their regret that it was not in their power to grant them
an exceptional and superior reward. The reputation of the house of Fourdinois is European,
and their exhibitions in 1851 and 1855 were the object of general admiration." The Interna-
tional Jury of Class 30 thus expressed themselves in 1862; and we have endeavoured to give
some illustration of M. Fourdinois' works, by lithographs of the great hunting chimney, exhi-
bited by M. Fourdinois joere, at London in 1862, and at Paris in 1855 ; and of the beautiful
ebony cabinet contributed to the present Exhibition by M. Fourdinois fits. (See Plate 214.)
This noble composition, intended as a chimney-piece for a country mansion, is richly
ornamented with subjects relative to the chase: bold and massive in style, it formed one of the
most striking objects in the central nave, and we think it a subject for regret that it should
have been taken back to France, and still remain on the hands of the manufacturer.
The frieze of the chimney-piece is filled in with children, allegorical of Spring, Summer,
Autumn, and Winter, very cleverly modelled in bronze; these, however, are somewhat lost, as
seen against the wood to which they are fixed, the colours not being sufficiently opposed. Over
these is an enamelled clock furnished with figures of boys, emblematic of Morning and Evening,
Sleep and Awakening. In the centre is a large oval medallion finely carved with a stag-hunt,
and supported on each side respectively, by statues of a hunter and huntress with hounds
in leash : at the top are boys with dogs ready for the hunt, and at the angles boys blowing
hunting-horns. This grand architectonic composition was about twenty feet high, and was valued
at £1,800. It was designed by M. Yervillier, and executed by M. Parti, sculptor, M. Megret,
sen., principal wood-carver, and Messrs. Hillier, Dujardin, and Le Parmentier, principal work-
men. M. Fourdinois, sen., received a prize medal for this chimney-piece. M. Fourdinois'
contributions to the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1855 received the highest commendation of all
good judges, and were rewarded with a Council medal and a great medal of honour, the highest
distinction the Juries had it in their power to bestow. The magnificent sideboard carved in
walnut, exhibited- in 1851, was certainly one of the grandest pieces of furniture ever produced.
So great were its merits, that it was specially noticed by the Jury for sculpture and works of
plastic art, as characterized by such happy invention and power of execution as to justify its
being treated as a work of fine art. It received a detailed description, full of the highest
praise, from Mr. Redgrave, R.A., in his " Supplementary Report on Design." M. Fourdinois
was equally fortunate in finding an English critic of high standing to appreciate his contributions
at Paris in 1855 ; and Mr. Digby Wyatt, in his elaborate report on the furniture and decoration
in that Exhibition, says:—" First in rank unquestionably, and well deserving the great medal
of honour it received, stood the house of Fourdinois, whose exhibition on the present occasion
formed a worthy sequel to, and improvement on, its display in 1851." Mr. Wyatt then proceeds
to criticise very favourably the chimney-piece which we have selected for illustration. We regret
that it should have remained so long without a purchaser: whoever it was bought the great
walnut sideboard should also endeavour to become the possessor of the chimney-piece, as they
suit each other perfectly in style and subject.
As regards style, M. Fourdinois has taken for his model, Italian art of the first half of
the 17th century, combining with it original subjects from nature and novel details, which,
without destroying the strongly-marked character of the original, lend it a richness and freshness
of appearance, bearing witness to a highly-refined taste and that true artistic ability which can
combine various separate features into one harmonious whole.
A CHIMNEY-PIECE,
1SY II. FOURDIXOIS, PARIS.
ll/TESSRS. FOURDINOIS, "father and son, with M. Barbddienne and M. Grohe, were
among the few manufacturers whom the International Jury desired to distinguish in a
special manner, when they expressed their regret that it was not in their power to grant them
an exceptional and superior reward. The reputation of the house of Fourdinois is European,
and their exhibitions in 1851 and 1855 were the object of general admiration." The Interna-
tional Jury of Class 30 thus expressed themselves in 1862; and we have endeavoured to give
some illustration of M. Fourdinois' works, by lithographs of the great hunting chimney, exhi-
bited by M. Fourdinois joere, at London in 1862, and at Paris in 1855 ; and of the beautiful
ebony cabinet contributed to the present Exhibition by M. Fourdinois fits. (See Plate 214.)
This noble composition, intended as a chimney-piece for a country mansion, is richly
ornamented with subjects relative to the chase: bold and massive in style, it formed one of the
most striking objects in the central nave, and we think it a subject for regret that it should
have been taken back to France, and still remain on the hands of the manufacturer.
The frieze of the chimney-piece is filled in with children, allegorical of Spring, Summer,
Autumn, and Winter, very cleverly modelled in bronze; these, however, are somewhat lost, as
seen against the wood to which they are fixed, the colours not being sufficiently opposed. Over
these is an enamelled clock furnished with figures of boys, emblematic of Morning and Evening,
Sleep and Awakening. In the centre is a large oval medallion finely carved with a stag-hunt,
and supported on each side respectively, by statues of a hunter and huntress with hounds
in leash : at the top are boys with dogs ready for the hunt, and at the angles boys blowing
hunting-horns. This grand architectonic composition was about twenty feet high, and was valued
at £1,800. It was designed by M. Yervillier, and executed by M. Parti, sculptor, M. Megret,
sen., principal wood-carver, and Messrs. Hillier, Dujardin, and Le Parmentier, principal work-
men. M. Fourdinois, sen., received a prize medal for this chimney-piece. M. Fourdinois'
contributions to the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1855 received the highest commendation of all
good judges, and were rewarded with a Council medal and a great medal of honour, the highest
distinction the Juries had it in their power to bestow. The magnificent sideboard carved in
walnut, exhibited- in 1851, was certainly one of the grandest pieces of furniture ever produced.
So great were its merits, that it was specially noticed by the Jury for sculpture and works of
plastic art, as characterized by such happy invention and power of execution as to justify its
being treated as a work of fine art. It received a detailed description, full of the highest
praise, from Mr. Redgrave, R.A., in his " Supplementary Report on Design." M. Fourdinois
was equally fortunate in finding an English critic of high standing to appreciate his contributions
at Paris in 1855 ; and Mr. Digby Wyatt, in his elaborate report on the furniture and decoration
in that Exhibition, says:—" First in rank unquestionably, and well deserving the great medal
of honour it received, stood the house of Fourdinois, whose exhibition on the present occasion
formed a worthy sequel to, and improvement on, its display in 1851." Mr. Wyatt then proceeds
to criticise very favourably the chimney-piece which we have selected for illustration. We regret
that it should have remained so long without a purchaser: whoever it was bought the great
walnut sideboard should also endeavour to become the possessor of the chimney-piece, as they
suit each other perfectly in style and subject.
As regards style, M. Fourdinois has taken for his model, Italian art of the first half of
the 17th century, combining with it original subjects from nature and novel details, which,
without destroying the strongly-marked character of the original, lend it a richness and freshness
of appearance, bearing witness to a highly-refined taste and that true artistic ability which can
combine various separate features into one harmonious whole.