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ID #SA1228358
FOR SALE
£550
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19th Century French Figural Bronze, the Figure Attributed to Pierre-augustin Caron De Beaumarchais.
For sale by Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
for sale €644     $699
£550
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

Sellingantiques Verified Since Nov 2020
Browse dealers 97 items
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    We specialise in flintlock pistols, muskets, clocks & watches
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Id #SA1228358
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19th Century French Figural Bronze, the Figure Attributed to Pierre-augustin Caron De Beaumarchais.

19th century
Description

A substantial and highly decorative late 19th-century French patinated bronze figural mantelpiece ornament, finely modelled with a seated gentleman in elaborate 18th-century dress.

This piece attributed to the famous French writer and playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (author of The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro) seated at his writing desk. [1, 2]

The figure is exceptionally well detailed, with powdered hair, decorated coat, waistcoat and breeches, seated with one leg crossed over the other and holding a long quill-like implement. Beside him is an elaborate circular ornamental medallion, surrounded by scrolling foliage, flowers and Rococo ornament.

The whole composition is mounted on a substantial stepped blackened bronze base, richly decorated with a continuous band of scrolling Rococo ornament and four impressive foliate scroll feet.

The bronze has a aged patina with lighter highlights to the raised decoration. An impressive and unusual piece of French decorative bronze, ideally suited to display on a mantelpiece, console or library table alongside a French mantel clock.

French, late 19th century, circa 1880–1900.

Dimensions: 29 cm high × 24 cm wide × 13 cm deep.

Condition

Good antique condition, with attractive aged patination and surface wear consistent with age. Minor rubbing and marks to the raised decoration and base commensurate with its age. Overall an impressive and well-preserved decorative bronze.

Date of Manufacture

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria has dated this French Gilt Bronze Sculpture to the 19th Century.

Independent Date Guide ID 09598506
Dealer's Item Date19th Century
Sellingantiques Date19th Century
Sellingantiques agingItem 125-160 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 19TH CENTURY:
Square iron nuts on the foot studs: fits late nineteenth-century French assembly.
Gilding rubbed through to brass on the knees and cuffs: prolonged handling.
Fine hand-chased detail on the coat and cravat: nineteenth-century bronze finishing.
Verdigris and darkened metal inside the hollow foot castings: gradual natural ageing.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1228358
Dealers Notes

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria, Portobello Road

WE are open every Saturday between 9.30 - 3.30pm in Chelsea Galleries 67 Portobello Road London.

We are at the front of the gallery, on the 1st aisle.

Web page:-

https://peterharrisclocks.com/welcome/

Description
A substantial and highly decorative late 19th-century French patinated bronze figural mantelpiece ornament, finely modelled with a seated gentleman in elaborate 18th-century dress.
“
This piece attributed to the famous French writer and playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (author of The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro) seated at his writing desk.
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

[1, 2]

fig 1. A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet.
fig 1. 19th Century French Figural Bronze, the Figure Attributed to Pierre-augustin Caron De Beaumarchais.

The figure is exceptionally well detailed, with powdered hair, decorated coat, waistcoat and breeches, seated with one leg crossed over the other and holding a long quill-like implement. Beside him is an elaborate circular ornamental medallion, surrounded by scrolling foliage, flowers and Rococo ornament.

fig 2. A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet.
fig 2. 19th Century French Figural Bronze, the Figure Attributed to Pierre-augustin Caron De Beaumarchais.

The whole composition is mounted on a substantial stepped blackened bronze base, richly decorated with a continuous band of scrolling Rococo ornament and four impressive foliate scroll feet.

The bronze has a aged patina with lighter highlights to the raised decoration. An impressive and unusual piece of French decorative bronze, ideally suited to display on a mantelpiece, console or library table alongside a French mantel clock.

fig 3. A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet.
fig 3. 19th Century French Figural Bronze, the Figure Attributed to Pierre-augustin Caron De Beaumarchais.

French, late 19th century, circa 1880–1900.

Dimensions: 29 cm high × 24 cm wide × 13 cm deep.

Condition

Good antique condition, with attractive aged patination and surface wear consistent with age. Minor rubbing and marks to the raised decoration and base commensurate with its age. Overall an impressive and well-preserved decorative bronze.

Date of Manufacture

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria has dated this French Gilt Bronze Sculpture to the 19th Century.

Independent Date Report ID 09598506
Dealer's Item Date19th Century
Sellingantiques dating19th Century
Sellingantiques agingItem 125-160 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 19th Century:
Square iron nuts on the foot studs: fits late nineteenth-century French assembly.
Gilding rubbed through to brass on the knees and cuffs: prolonged handling.
Fine hand-chased detail on the coat and cravat: nineteenth-century bronze finishing.
Verdigris and darkened metal inside the hollow foot castings: gradual natural ageing.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1228358
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Sellingantiques verified Since Nov 2020

We specialise in flintlock pistols, muskets, clocks & watches

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria Profile Page

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A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet.
1 / 13
Archive I A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet.

19th Century French Figural Bronze, the Figure Attributed to Pierre-augustin Caron De Beaumarchais.

Archive II A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View II
Archive III A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View III
Archive IV A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View IV
Archive V A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View V
Archive VI A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View VI
Archive VII A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View VII
Archive VIII A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View VIII
Archive IX A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View IX
Archive X A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View X
Archive XI A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View XI
Archive XII A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View XII
Archive XIII A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet. View XIII
Enlarged Archival View
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Telephone 07930 536818
Location
London
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/peterharrisclocks
Verified Since Nov 2020
Items For Sale 97
Items Sold 114
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Verified Since Nov 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: London, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/peterharrisclocks
Verified
Nov 2020
For Sale
97
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A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet.
19th Century French Figural Bronze, the figure attributed to Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais.
Ref: SA1228358
A 19th-century French gilt bronze sculpture depicting a seated gentleman in historic dress holding a quill, supported by an ornate black base with metallic scroll feet.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectSculptures & Figurines
  • Period19th century
  • Style19th Century French
  • MaterialGilt Bronze, Ormolu, Marble
  • ColourGold and Black
  • MotifsSeated figure, Coat of arms, Scroll feet, Desk clock accent

This late 19th-century French figural sculpture, attributed to the writer and playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, depicts a gentleman in 18th-century dress holding a quill. Made from patinated bronze and ormolu with a marble base, the piece combines gold and black colours, featuring an aged patina, surface wear, and lighter highlights on the raised decoration. The composition includes a seated figure in a decorated coat, waistcoat, and breeches beside an ornamental medallion and a circular desk clock accent, mounted on a stepped black base with scrolled foliage and four ornate foliate scroll feet. Measuring 29 cm high by 24 cm wide by 13 cm deep, this sculpture works well on an office desk, mantelpiece, console, or library table in a gentleman's library setting.

FAQs

Nineteenth-century French figural bronzes represent a period of high artistic output in France, typically depicting historical figures, mythological subjects, or literary icons rendered with detailed metal casting and gilding techniques.

These sculptures typically utilised cast bronze, frequently finished with mercury gilding (ormolu) or patinated finishes, mounted atop black marble, slate, or wood plinths with chased metal fittings.

Authentic pieces demonstrate precise hand-chasing, crisp detail in clothing and features, substantial weight from solid bronze casting, and natural age-related oxidisation or surface wear to the gilt layer.

Place the sculpture on a dark wood desk, mantelpiece, or console table to establish a central focal point, combining it with streamlined modern elements to emphasize its detailed profile.

Dust the surfaces gently using a dry microfibre cloth or soft brush, avoiding chemical cleaners or excess moisture that could strip the gilding or dull the polished marble base.
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