Inkwell Silver-plated bronze sculpture "Putto aux Tambours" Marnyhac Paris 19th century

A rare and fascinating collector's item, this rectangular double inkwell sculpture features a "Putto aux Tambours" of striking vivacity and expressiveness. The child, delicately draped, sits confidently on a large antique armchair. The seat's high, rounded back is adorned with ribbons, while the sides feature elegant scrolled consoles embellished with refined fluting and interlacing.

In his two raised hands, the putto holds tambourines, ready to strike the two tripod drums that make up the inkwell. The latter are richly decorated with fine drapery, delicate trimmings, knots and lines of twisted strings.

Ingeniously concealed in this drum decor, the ink receptacles open at the top, revealing sumptuous interiors with their original blue crystal lining. The whole set rests elegantly on a large floral carpet, featuring olive trees, ears of wheat and poppies, all framed by a neat border.

The front of the piece features a hollow molded receptacle that served as a pen tray. It rests on four feet, two rounded and flat at the front and two sheathed and molded at the back.

Numerous moldings make up the inkwell, including Cavet, rounded, flat, square and ribbon moldings.

Signed on the back by Maison Marnyhac, 26 Avenue de l'Opéra, Paris.

Neo-Classical Louis XVI style, circa 1880.

Dimensions: Width 25.5 cm Height 18 cm Depth 15 cm

Condition report: Magnificent Assembly, Very good condition, Disassembled, cleaned, anti-oxidation treated, Superb original silvering. Traces of use and age (especially 2 at the bottom of the pencil box due to use). A very small spot of wear on the lid inside one inkwell, not visible when closed.

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History Bibliography:

"Rien de faible, tout pour l'Art" Motto

The Maison de Marnyhac et Cie is a company specializing in the manufacture and sale of art bronzes. It was founded around 1865 by the artist Jacques Elie Edmond Armand de Marnyhac, known as Charles de Marnyhac (1840-1897). The company's history is little documented to this day, yet it is considered to be Barbedienne's direct competitor. The company also participated in the 1867 Exposition Universelle, where it won a bronze medal, and in the 1878 Exposition Universelle, where it was awarded a gold medal and the Légion d'honneur.

Catalog illustré du Salon de 1882 (pp. 295-296): "A department store should be in some way like a museum: nothing weak, everything for Art; one should encounter only improvements, and each work is made to serve occasionally as a sample and model (...) Enter these stores on Avenue de l'Opéra, and you will already see all the most varied parts of a furniture installation.

Many of the most elegant private mansions on the Plaine Monceau and in the suburbs were furnished by the company, as were the Hôtel Continental (now The Westin Paris-Vendôme) and the Hôtel du Figaro. In the Illustrated Catalogue of the 1886 Salon (volume 6), we read: "Anyone wishing to furnish a hotel with furniture that stands out from the rest could not have a more expert guide than M. de Marnyhac.

Nevertheless, the majority of the company's production was based on the reproduction of modern sculptures, of which Charles de Marnyhac was one of the most ardent propagators. Like his competitors, de Marnyhac tried to satisfy his clientele through collaborations with renowned contemporary artists, who were the real driving force behind his success. These included Eugène Piat (1827-1903), Auguste Clésinger (1814-1883), Alexandre Falguière (1831-1900) and Edouard Lièvre (1828-1886).

Decorative element that can find its place other than on a Desk.<!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_250505_184543_213.sdocx--><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_250505_184521_078.sdocx-->

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