Ferdinand Levillain And Ferdinand Barbedienne, Pair Of Greek Style Amphorae, Model

Our pair of vases was edited by the Barbedienne house between 1891 and 1911, after bas-relief models sculpted by Ferdinand Levillain: "Bas-relief in plaster Vendangeurs", exhibited at the Salon of 1877, and "Bas-relief in plaster The picking of the Hops "presented during the Salon of 1878. We find the reproduction of these bas-reliefs on one of the faces of each of our vases. Extremely rich in decoration, they also welcome the profiles of the god Bacchus on the back of the decoration representing the picking of hops in a crown of the same plant. As well as the profile of the goddess Arianne on the back of the decoration representing the harvest, under branches of ivy and associated with cornucopias. The two small handles are supported by mascarons of bearded old men, while the amphora rests on four feet ending in hooves and resting on a quatrefoil base. Ferdinand Levillain (1837 - 1905) is an important French sculptor and medalist. A pupil of the sculptor Jouffroy (1806-1882), he made his debut in 1861 at the Salon des Artistes Français, where he exhibited until 1903. He also participated in the Universal Exhibitions, in particular that of 1867 in Paris where he stood out with a Neo-Greek bronze cup made for the Blot et Drouard house. But it is that of 1878, which allows him to know the fame by winning unanimously a gold medal. From 1871, he joined forces with the founder Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810 - 1892) at the head of one of the most important 19th century art foundry which, in addition to his works, widely disseminated those of F. Levillain. as well as those of other sculptors such as Clésinger (1814-1883), Carrier-Belleuse (1824 - 1887) or even Guillemin (1841 - 1907). Bibliography - F. Barbedienne editor, G. Leblanc-Barbedienne successors, Bronzes and objets d'art, Paris, 1911, p. 79. - Stanislas Lami, Dictionary of sculptors of the French school in the 19th century, t. III, Paris, 1919 Signature "F.Barbediene" in the decor