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Neoclassical, Art, Original Design, Caryatid Candelabrum, Antique Drawing, Late 19th Century

$575

Henry Dasson (1825-1896)
Neoclassical Caryatid Candelabrum Design
Henry Dasson et Cie., Paris: Last Quarter, 19th Century
Graphite pencil and wash on paper
Inscribed lower right: Dasson/No./295/Collection
9.25 x 7.25 inches overall
Provenance: Collection of Lee B. Anderson
$575

An original drawing of a neoclassical candelabrum, from the workshop of Henry Dasson et Cie., one of the leading Parisian manufacturers of gilt bronze decorative arts in the late 19th century. The design is for a Grecian caryatid figure supporting three candle cups on her head on scrolled foliate supports. The central compound candle cup is flanked by two slightly lower ones on ram’s heads above a rectangular support. The caryatid stands on a round socle base decorated with festoons and a row of beading.

Product Description Continues Below.

Description

Henry (sometimes spelled Henri) Dasson was a 19th-century manufacturer of fine furniture and sculptural decorative arts objects in Paris. Known for exquisite craftsmanship, his firm was considered among the finest makers of gilt bronzes and ormolu mounts. Dasson’s designs were adapted from French 18th century examples in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI taste, as well as early 19th Century French Empire. He exhibited his work with great success at Expositions in Paris in the 1870s and 1880s and had an international clientele of aristocratic patrons for his work.

Condition: Generally very good with the usual light wear, toning, soft creases. Some overall faint scattered foxing. The drawing was made on the back of an etching dated 1853 after François Gerard’s portrait of Madame Regnault de Saint Jean Dangely (1798). It is signed lower right “Dasson.” The signature has reasonable similarities to the standard stamp found on extant signed pieces of Dasson gilt bronze decorative arts, and presumably is by Dasson himself, though possibly alternatively by a designer in his workshop.

References:

Droth, Martina. Taking Shape: Finding Sculpture in the Decorative Arts. p. 64. Online at Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=oQ22iXzNMJoC (26 October 2012).

“Lot 124: An impressive pair of French late 19th century gilt-bronze five-light wall appliqués of ‘Zephyr and Flora.'” Bonham’s. 15 December 2011. /www.bonhams.com/auctions/19014/lot/124/ (26 October 2012).

Additional information

Century

19th Century