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 awards. 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 Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and collectibles.
19th Century Boulle Mantel Clock
By Payne and Co. 1
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French boulle mantel clock with wonderful scrolling foliate ormolu mounts to the surround, brass inlay to the red tortoiseshell. White enamel roman n...
Tortoise Shell
French 19th Century Rococo Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu Louis XVI style mantel clock, having wonderful scrolling foliate decoration in the Rococo style, garlands of flowers draped eith...
Ormolu
Classical 19th Century French Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century French Louis XVI style gilded ormolu mantel clock. Having a broken arch pediment with a twin handled urn to the centre. The inset champlevé enam...
Enamel, Ormolu
French 19th Century Boulle mantle clock.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French 19th Century Boulle mantle clock, having a gilded ormolu putti seated on the top, Red tortoiseshell and brass inlay to the serpentine shaped case, wonderfu...
Brass, Ormolu
French Ormolu Calendar Mantel Clock, 19th Century
By Aubert & Klaftenberger
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French, 19th century gilded ormolu mantel clock with a calendar dial. Having pink Sevres porcelain panels. Foliate and ribbon decoration, the clock being an eight...
Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu mantel clock, having Sevres style porcelain panels, depicting a romantic scene, a gilded ormolu urn with swags above the clock f...
Ormolu
A Fine Late 19th Century French Le Roy and Fils Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Fine Late 19th Century French Le Roy and Fils Ormolu Mantel Clock The ornate case in the Louis XVI style with finely cast and chased ornament, a tribute to the art of the bronzier...
Ormolu
Fantastic quality antique Victorian French mantle clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fantastic quality antique Victorian French mantle clock, having a quality antique Victorian French mantle clock with a French eight day movement striking on bell, with circular ename...
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Revival Mantel Clock by AD Mougin, 19.3 in
By A.D. Mougin
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
An impressive and richly ornamented French mantel clock executed in the exuberant Louis XV Revival taste, dating to the late 19th century and housing an authentic AD Mougin movement....
Bronze
Antique French Mantelpiece / Clock, Deniere a Paris, circa 1880
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique French mantelpiece / clock, Deniere a Paris, circa 1880 All-round glazed, fire-gilded bronze case with relief decoration, on an alabaster ba...
Marble, Brass
19th Century Louis XV Style Mantel Clock
Located in Belmont, MA
Unique French 19th century mantel clock. This exquisite mantel clock has a Sevres porcelain dial plate and other Sevres porcelain decorations. The movement with spring suspension. ...
Ormolu
F. Barbedienne, French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock, Ed. Minart, c. 1852
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
An exceptionally refined French ormolu mantel clock in the Louis XVI Revival style, attributed to the celebrated Parisian bronze founder Ferdinand Barbedienne. The clock was most lik...
Bronze
