IMPORTANT bronze jewelry casket, box, coffret. Both sculptor of renown and also one of the masters of the foundry that cast for Canova and other top sculptors of his time, this is quite typical of the superb early 1800s boxes and decorative objects that remain, bear the name, Leopold OUDRY. This fine box would have been post 1839 when he relocated his original foundry from Auteuil (annexed to Paris in 1860) to an address at 10 bis rue de Versailles. At that factory, he was a master of galvanic copper and silver plating and in major control of the monumental fountains and public candelabra of Paris. By that time, his foundry employed 150 workers. He was an artist first and foremost, however, and so these early boxes are well-valued and not often found. His work resides in museum collections like the D'Orsay, Paris and the V&A, London, and many others. You have an opportunity to own this one. Oudry famously participated in the top Universal Expositons and won 2nd in 1855. In 1861 he performed what is accepted as a true tour de force and the copper plating we still enjoy on the two monumental fountains of the Place de la Concorde (built by Hittorff in 1838 and had to be painted every year prior to Oudry's plating). In 1862, Oudry showcased decorative items such as vases, candlesticks, statuettes in bronze or copper or iron tanned using the techniques he was a Master in. His legacy is hugely important in Paris and throughout the art world of sculpture, c1830-1870. This casket is his original, signed. We would put its date in about 1840-60, latest. Measurements noted in our photos, but it is a large at 8". DO NOT MISS OWNING THIS IMPORTANT BOX! Recent auctions researched show: simple 3 piece vanity set by Oudry, sold in London for 2500 GBP. Boxes between 2500 -8000 euro.
Good to very good condition for age and type. As noted above, the importance of this artist and foundry is impeccable and this casket shows some of the major contributions of plating or bonding metals. This ha a bronze base, silver plating and copper accent plating, plus a brilliant gold alloy plating, giving it far more interest than a generally cast bronze box. Subject, as well, Neoclassical and brilliantly designed and crafted. Some of his works are more to the hunt theme and Animalier movement aesthetic, but his one is a bit exotic and superb in interest. The old original tuck and tufted silk interior lining is a bit tattered, as can be seen, but again, this is not unusual for age. More unusual is that it is complete. There is some loss to plating, mostly efficient on the lid, which has had a bit of too much polishing over time, removing what would have been the gold later originally there and exposing the bronze. I have seen his work in museums, no better condition but highly praised and valued. Also at auctions through Europe. Heavy! Bronze! Splendid history and investment piece! Own museum quality antiques!
