French Bronze Amalthea and Jupiter's Goat Barbedienne

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French Bronze Amalthea and Jupiter's Goat Barbedienne

Name: French Bronze Amalthea and Jupiter's Goat Barbedienne
Brand: Ferdinand Barbedienne
Rating: 5 (3 reviews)

About the Item

The Bronze beautifully cast after the original by Pierre Julien (1731-1804) named “Amalthée et la chèvre de Jupiter” was executed by the renowned Ferdinand Barbedienne foundry during the last quarter of the 19th century and is featured in their 1886 catalogue as Baigneuse. It features the Goat-tending nymph Amalthea with Jupiter’s (Zeus) Goat. It was offered in five sizes: 86 cm for 1050 francs, 69 cm for 600 francs, 52 cm for 350 francs, 43 cm for 250 francs and 34 cm for 200 francs. The figure is signed to the front F. Barbedienne. Fondeur and to the rear with the A. Collas seal dating to the late 19th century circa 1890. The model depicted is the middle size measuring 52cm originally retailing for 350 francs which converts to approximately £45 British Pounds. Amalthea & Jupiters Goat The goat of Amalthea is a divine goat that fed the baby Jupiter (Zeus) with its milk. Its name is translated from ancient Greek and means “gentle goddess.” The legend begins with Zeus’ father, Kronos. It was told that Kronos swallowed up all his newly born children in fear of losing his power. His wife (Zeus' mother) Rhea suffered greatly from the loss and when the next child was born, she slipped a stone wrapped in diapers to Kronos instead of the baby, Zeus. Kronos unknowingly swallowed the stone and so the baby had to go into hiding. Rhea hid him on the island of Crete in the cave of Mount Ida. This was where a goat (Amalthea/Amaltheas Goat) saved the life of the future supreme god. She produced two 'kids' and fed Zeus with the abundance of milk that came with pregnancy. Amalthea was said to have baby Zeus in a cradle on a tree so that he could not be found on the ground, in the sky, or in the sea if Kronos searched for him. Zeus was extremely fond of his saviour and Amalthea received from him a golden dog who guarded her until her death. Further to the dog, an accidentally broken goat’s horn became a cornucopia and the legend of the goat Amalthea became the source of the phraseologist from the myths of ancient Greece, where the “cornucopia” term is used. The legend says that the one who held the cornucopia in his hands could get everything he wanted. It is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, depicted as a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, or nuts. Amaltheas Goat served Zeus even after death. According to the ancient Greek mythology the god used her unusually healthy skin for the shield during the war with the titans. Covering his shield with Amalthea’s skin, it made Zeus invincible and under the auspices of his protection, he began to fight with the titans. Thus, another popular expression, “under the auspices,” appeared. There is two parallel stories of Amalthea and Jupiters goat, according to another version Amalthea was not a goat, but a mountain nymph to which this goat belonged as seen in the sculpture above. Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) Born in Saint-Pierre-en-Auge, Northwestern France. Barbedienne began life as a wallpaper salesman before going into partnership with Achille Collas in 1838 the founder of a mechanical device capable of replicating miniature models of famous sculptures. From 1838 Barbedienne grew substantially to become one of the most well known French founders and sculptures of the 19th century. See our article Insight Ferdinand Barbedienne for further information. Achille Collas(1795–1859) Born in Paris, France. He was an a celebrated engineer, inventor, writer and engraver who developed a way of mechanically creating engravings and a machine to copy sculptures at a smaller scale, the so-called Réduction Méchanique, which popularised small sculptures and has been credited with being almost entirely responsible for the transformation of the bronze industry. Ormolu is the technique of applying finely ground, high-carat gold–mercury amalgam to an object of bronze. The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold coating. The French refer to this technique as bronze doré and in English it is often referred to as gilt bronze. It is a finishing technique which adds an overall gold look to any object without the massive cost and impracticality of making an object out of solid gold. Mercury was outlawed in the 1830’s in France however it was still used until the early 1900s. Bronze is a metal alloy consisting of copper, about 12% tin and often other metals such as aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc and sometimes, non-metals such as phosphorus, arsenic and, silicon. The additions produce a range of alloys that are harder than copper alone and often have other useful properties such as strength, ductility, and/or machinability. Measurements (centimetres) 52cm High x 35.8cm Wide x 22cm Deep

Creator:
Ferdinand Barbedienne (Metalworker)
Dimensions:
Height: 20.47 in (52 cm)Width: 14.3 in (36.33 cm)Depth: 8.75 in (22.23 cm)
Style:
Art Nouveau (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Ormolu,Cast
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1890
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Newark, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: PRDS1stDibs: LU6971238189912

Shop All Ferdinand Barbedienne

Ferdinand Barbedienne

Founded by one-time Parisian wallpaper dealer Ferdinand Barbedienne and engineer Achille Collas, one of the most revered foundries in 19th-century France began with the invention of a revolutionary 1830s-era device that could produce proportional reproductions — large or small — of sculptures. Collas’s machine, which yielded miniature likenesses of antiquities for the interiors of homes the world over, was pivotal to the success of the F. Barbedienne Foundry. The successful firm earned prestigious awards and critical acclaim and created exquisite bronze candleholders, clocks and lamps for a range of wealthy and prominent clients.

The duo first launched their company under the name Société Collas et Barbedienne, and early on, they optimized chemical processes for pigmenting and patinating their bronze statuettes. After Collas died in 1859, Barbedienne forged on alone, and the company’s name changed to simply F. Barbedienne.

Barbedienne employed more than 300 workers at that point, and the Maison created a range of furnishings and decorative objects that featured the integration of marble and ormolu accents. However, with the onset of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the foundry was forced to retrofit its molds, and the production of cannons replaced sculptures, furniture and vases.

When Ferdinand Barbedienne passed away in 1891, his nephew and heir, Gustave Leblanc, took over as president, changing the name to Leblanc-Barbedienne. Leblanc expanded production into Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, carrying on the company's legacy with monumental sculptures, and models and securing production rights for famous statues. Paul-Alexandre Dumas, an Art Nouveau maker and student of Louis Majorelle, succeeded Leblanc until the company's closing in 1952.

Barbedienne pieces had been exhibited regularly in the 19th century and were especially prevalent at Europe’s international expositions and world’s fairs, where they received numerous prizes. Today, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris holds dozens of Barbedienne works in its collection, including intricate mirrors, vases and cups created by Louis-Constant Sévin at the foundry. For more than two decades, Sévin created lamps, boxes and more at Maison Barbedienne. Working alongside award-winning chaser Désiré Attarge, Sévin designed Napoleon III-era works that greatly appealed to European nobility.

Other notable artists who collaborated with Barbedienne included Eugene Aizelin, Emmanuel Fremiet, Antonin Mercié, Emile Guillemin, Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Levillain and Auguste Rodin.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique Ferdinand Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and more.

Located in London, GB

This ormolu clock is an exemplary work by the famous French 19th century metalworker and foundry-owner, Ferdiand Barbedienne. Working with a design made by the acclaimed onamentalist, Louis-Constant...

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