A Tripod Center Table - Attributed To Eugène Cornu (1827-1875)

Galvanic bronze with a dual patina

France
vers 1860-70  

height 92 cm
diameter 45 cm

Eugène Cornu (1827-1875) was a French sculptor and bronze-caster. He first worked as a draughtsman and then took over the work of the Maison Tahan. In 1858, he became the creator and director of the Company of Marbles and Onyx of Algeria led by Gustave Viot. They produced luxurious art objects mixing onyx, bronze and enamels. The company then became "Société des Onyx d'Algérie E. Cornu et Cie".  The company also executed works based on models by Carrier-Belleuse, Cordier and Barrias.  After his death in 1875, the company was taken over by H. Journet, and the onyx mines in the region of Oran continued to be exploited until the beginning of the 20th century. Eugène Cornu participated in many Universal Exhibitions, those of 1862, 1871, 1872 in London and that of 1867 in Paris. At the latter, he was honored with a gold medal for an impressive pair of vases in onyx, bronze and enamel (signed G. Viot et Cie, 1867 Exhibition, Eugène Cornu Inventor).