Style Other / Ref.11119

Capitain-Gény foundry, Bronze burnished cast iron vase on a tripod, circa 1892

This large cast iron vase with the monogram "LC" was made around 1892 by the foundry Capitain-Gény and is illustrated on the catalogue published in 1911.

The foundry Ferry-Capitain, name under which it is still active today, is created in 1831 by Auguste Capitain (1795-1878), it evolves and carries on through many generations. Indeed, it first bears the name Capitain-Brocard and Capitain-Rémond between 1831 and 1849, then Capitain-Salin between 1849 and 1875 when Hyacinthe Salin, Henriette Capitain's husband, daughter of the founder, takes the direction. Edmond Capitain, Auguste's son, is associated from 1861 to the company's direction of which he will take the lead in 1875. After his marriage with Charlotte Gény, the company takes the name Capitain-Gény. Their daughter, Brigitte, marries Émile Ferry, also born into an industrial family of steelworks. Edmond work with his son-in-law in 1889. When Edmond dies in 1919, Ferry leads alone the company which becomes Ferry-Capitain in 1927 until today. The firm practices sand casting, art cast iron and bronze until 1928, when they are obliges to stop the artistic activity to dedicate themselves exclusively to an insutrial production of important cast iron and steel pieces.

The date of the first cast iron decoration and art productions is not known, but is confirmed in 1878 by the win of a silver medal during the World's Fair, which took place in Paris. This decorative cast iron is completed by important public orders, among which we can list in Paris two equestrian allegories for the Grand Palais by Peter, four groups of blacksmiths by Michel for the Bir-Hakeim bridge, the Monument of Le Play by Allar in the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Monument Lamarck by Fagel in the Jardin des Plantes, and many other in the rest of the country and abroad.
After the World's Fair participation in 1878, Edmond Capitain receives in 1880 the Légion d’honneur. The foundry also participates to the one in 1889 with monumental pieces and art cast iron and receives two medals, one of silver and the other of gold. Finally in 1900, Capitain-Gény is ineligible to compete and also jury member during the 1900 World's Faire.

The burnished cast iron vase of bronze color is adorned with beautiful handles with stylized volutes and a trompe-l'oeil netting on a pale green background. It rests on cast iron tripod bearing the monogram "LC" and a commemorative plate on which is written the date 19 of September 1892. Thus, our vase was very likely ordered and offered during an important event for its recipient.