Style Napoleon III / Ref.10859

Paul ROUSSEL (1867-1928) - Pair of pewter lamps, cast by Eugène Soleau and globe signed Sèvres

This beautiful pair of lamps was made around 1900 out of pewter. Inspired by Art Nouveau, they bear the signature of Paul Roussel, sculptor, and Eugène Soleau, bronze manufacturer in Paris.
A farandole of putti unfolds along the neck while the body of each lamp is adorned with flowers in slight relief.

Paul Roussel is a major sculptor of the turn of the 20th century. Born in 1867, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he studied with Jules Cavelier, Louis-Ernest Barrias and Jules Coutan. In 1895, he won the Grand Prix of Rome for the bas-relief "David, winner of Goliath, brought in triumph to Saul".
He won several medals at the Salons and exhibited Hors-Concours in London, Brussels, Turin, Liège, Amsterdam, Ghent. From 1906, he became a member of the jury of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and member of the grand jury of the Salon des artistes français. He obtained many orders from the State, including several monuments of importance: "The Duke of Aumale", stone statue commissioned by the State and kept at the entrance of the Museum of Decorative Arts of Paris, for example. He is decorated Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1914 and is promoted officer July 23, 1920.

Eugène Soleau, bronzier, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1853. His foundry was located at 127 rue de Turenne in Paris. Secretary (1885-1889), then vice-president (from 1895 to 1899) and finally president (from 1900) of the Union of Bronze Manufacturers, he invested himself, at French and international levels, in the protection of Intellectual property.