Style Napoleon III / Ref.11117

BOUHON - Exceptional pair of Napoleon III style andirons with fauns exhibited during the Universal exhibition of 1867

This exceptional pair of Napoleon III style gilt bronze andirons was made by Bouhon, specialized in bronze, and was presented at the World's Fair of 1867 in Paris.
Sitting back to back, two fauns, a man and a woman, raise an abundant cup of exotic fruits on which a pineapple stands. The young fauna passes his left arm behind the back of the other fauna in order to draw the drapery with multiple folds which covers slightly the body of this one. A mythological figure that embodies nature and joy, these two fauns, with their graceful lines and smiling faces, are an image of candor and sensuality.
The four-legged pedestals on which they sit have an ornamental vocabulary typical of the style: Rococo scrolls and shell, acanthus leaves, bell flowers.
The quality of these bronzes is remarkable: the hair, the fruits or the goat's legs of the characters are carved with great finesse.
This pair of andirons was presented at the World's Fair of 1867 at which Bouhon and Co. exhibited many andirons. Former house Clavier, then "Bouhon et Cie" until 1898, the house "Bouhon Frères" specializes in chimneys and their accessories in bronze and wrought iron.
The commercial almanacs mentioned for the first time a certain E. Clavier in 1852 as "sculptor ornament for bronze" at 12, rue Neuve-Saint-François in the Marais district in Paris (future rue Debelleyme) . In the almanac of 1863 are listed his specialties: "andirons, galleries, fireguards, shovels, tweezers etc": from the beginning of the house, he specializes to the fireplace accessories. Thanks to the quality of his productions, he won a 2nd class medal at the World's Fair of 1855 , two medals at the World's Fair of 1862 , and was noticed by critics at the 1867 Paris Exhibition. where he exhibits the bronze andirons we present here.
The house then became "Maison Bouhon Frères" when Thomas and Joseph Bouhon took over the family business then "Bouhon et Cie" until 1898. They specialize in fireplaces and their accessories in bronze and wrought iron. Renowned for the quality of their realizations, the manufactory participates in the Universal Exhibitions of 1878 and 1900 and is called several times to be part of the jury. For example, Bouhon père was a member of the jury outside the show at the 1889 Exhibition. The Bouhon Frères house was thus congratulated at the 1900 Universal Exhibition by the international jury for these screens and "entirely new" andirons. She received the gold medal, just as she had received at the Universal Exhibition of 1897 in Brussels.