Skip to main content
Bonhams
Search
Previous Lot
Next Lot
A mid-19th century French gilt bronze relief cast Neptune charger In the manner of Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), circa 1850 image 1
A mid-19th century French gilt bronze relief cast Neptune charger In the manner of Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), circa 1850 image 2
A mid-19th century French gilt bronze relief cast Neptune charger In the manner of Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), circa 1850 image 3
A mid-19th century French gilt bronze relief cast Neptune charger In the manner of Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), circa 1850 image 4
A mid-19th century French gilt bronze relief cast Neptune charger In the manner of Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), circa 1850 image 5
A mid-19th century French gilt bronze relief cast Neptune charger In the manner of Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), circa 1850 image 6
Lot 89

A mid-19th century French gilt bronze relief cast Neptune charger
In the manner of Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), circa 1850

Fine Decorative Arts
29 November 2022, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street

£10,000 - £15,000

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Home and Interiors specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

A mid-19th century French gilt bronze relief cast Neptune charger

In the manner of Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), circa 1850
The central circular reserve depicting the bearded sea god holding his trident aloft and riding in his scallop shell chariot, pulled by three hippocampi within a concave lobed inner border, outer rim elaborately cast with playful putti, various gods and goddess within chariots drawn by further hippocampi all on foaming waves, within four mask heads flanked by flowers and foliage, depicting aa putto blowing a gust of wind, two bearded males and a Bacchante wearing a fruiting vine headdress, 61.9cm diameter, 7.4cm deep approximately

Footnotes

Likely descended from a family of goldsmiths in the 18th century, François Villemsens established his workshop in the Marais, first at 18 rue Michel Le Comte, then at 71 rue du Temple. In 1834, he exhibited a facsimile of the armour of Francis I, which was hailed by the Archives du Commerce et de l'Industrie (Paris, 1834, p. 157). By 1835, he entered the Réunion des Fabricants de Bronze, heir to the former corporation of foundrymen, and regularly participated in the Expositions des Produits de l'Industrie Française. Winning a silver medal at the Exhibition of 1839, Villemsens joined the 'Bronze of Art and Furnishings' category alongside Thomire & Cie and Victor Paillard before winning a further silver medal at the last Exposition des Produits de l'Industrie Française in 1849.

With these successes he approached the Universal Exhibition in London in 1851 where he won a new medal by submitting several entries including a Neptune ewer bearing distinct stylistic and thematic similarities to the current lot. A pair of comparable ewers are offered in this sale as lot 90*. This success led him to New York where he participated in the Universal Exhibition of 1853 and his name appeared in the official catalogue of the New York exhibition of the industry of all nations, p. 154, at No. 15 as "Bronze candelabras, groups, lamps, etc. Villemsens & Co, manu. 71 rue de Temple, Paris"... He was again a medallist at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1855 and by 1863 Villemsens had offered to finance the award of a carving prize that would be awarded each year by the Réunion des Fabricants de Bronze. After participating in the Universal Exhibition of 1867 where he presented a cast door from the Baptistery of Florence, he finally retired from business.

*For a further discussion on Villemsens and the 1851 Neptune ewer which the design of this charger is likely based on, please see the following lot in this sale (lot 90).

Additional information

Bid now on these items

A pair of late 19th century French gilt bronze mounted pink griotte marble garniture urns In the Louis XVI style
A large late Victorian oak and brass dinner gongLate 19th / early 20th century, acquired by the Set Decorating Department for the third film, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Dame Maggie Smith (as the Dowager Countess): a selection of character props used as set decoration for her desk
Jim Carter (as Mr Carson): a selection of character props used as set decoration in his study
Jim Carter (as Mr Carson): an oak hanging key cabinet together with a large collation of prop keysThe cabinet in the Victorian style, the keys 18th century and later
Dame Maggie Smith (as the Dowager Countess): a white metal mounted ebonised walking cane
The Downton Abbey Bell WallFirst seen in Season 1, in the Servant's Hall, made by the Art Department's model makers
A large Italian carved marble bust of PericlesAfter the Antique, probably late 18th/early 19th century
Two similar Derbyshire blue john fluorspar ovoid door stops Early 20th century
A large French mid-19th century gilt-bronze eight light chandelierIn the Louis XV style
A rare Regency treen Gothic gatehouse timepiece case
An Austrian cold-painted bronze of a French Bulldog, with another similarcirca 1900
An Austrian cold-painted bronze of a French Bulldog singed Carl Kauba, with two similarlate 19th early 20th century
After Emmanuel Frémiet (French, 1824-1910): Chiens Levriers
Jules-Bertrand Gelibert (French, 1834-1916): Druid
After Emmanuel Fremiet (1824-1910): A patinated cast iron seated bloodhound