A Palatial Very Fine and Rare Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu and Malachite Pedestal Side Tables, attributed to Frédéric-Eugène Piat (French, 1827-1903), the bronze casting by Georges Édouard Gagneau (1842-1909) Gagneau Frères. The ornate triform gilt-bronze base with a floral, acanthus, wreath and seashell design, raised on scrolled feet, the interior center surmounted with twin acorn finials, and fitted with a later circular malachite veneer top above an icicle designed gilt-bronze apron. Stamped "G.A" several times on the ormolu underside. Circa: Paris, 1870.
Height: 42 inches (106.7 cm)
Width (at legs base): 22 3/4 inches (57.8 cm)
Depth (at legs base): 22 3/4 inches (57.8 cm)
Malachite Top Diameter: 22 inches (55.9 cm)
Ref.: A2601 - Lot 11377
Eugène Piat collaborated in the 1870s with a very large number of manufacturers, and varied his achievements according to the specialties of each house: From 1866, the artist joined forces with bronze maker Georges Édouard Gagneau (1842-1909), specializing in lighting devices. The latter ensures by contract the exclusivity of the ornamentalist for works devoted to lighting, the bronzes of art at Charles de Marnyhac (1838-1897) and Émile Colin (1844-1898), fireplace fittings at Charles Augustin Morisot (1842-?), Small furnishing bronzes at Henri Perrot (1824-1911), or even art zincs at Jules Ranvier (1833-1901 ). The immense variety and diversity of models created by Eugène Piat at the end of the 1870's is particularly evident at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1878 where the artist is omnipresent in the entire section devoted to bronze art. Among these models made by the ornamentalist, the Lemerle-Charpentier house presents a large Louis XVI style clock, inspired by Jean Charles Delafosse, in gilded bronze and green bronze. Piat obtains a gold medal for all of its collaborations. The artist also acquired an official place in the bronze industry at this exhibition by becoming a member of the jury for the first time. Eugène Piat’s success was confirmed at the 1889 World's Fair. Once again, the artist presented numerous models and was appointed a member of the jury. But it was above all at the end of this exhibition that he received the praise of the entire profession which awarded him the Grand Prix, the highest award ever granted to an industrial artist. Following this exhibition, Eugène Piat chooses to take a retirement which will ultimately only be temporary.
Georges François Edouard Gagneau was a bronzier and 'Fabricant de Bronzes' - Born 21 April 1842 and died in Paris in 1909. Gagneau established the 'Gagneau Frers.' firm in the 19th century and became famous for his manufacture of fine lighting pieces as well as manufacturing bronze and ornamental objets d'art for many Parisian designers of the time, including the renown French sculptor and ornamentalist, Frédéric-Eugène Piat (French, 1827-1903). Gagneau participated in many exhibitions throughout his career and received numerous awards for his works. He became part of the jury at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition (Exposition universelle) in the category of art-bronzes (Class 25).
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