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Lot Essay
The design for the jardinière is attributed to Edouard Lièvre (d.1886) based upon the distinctive elephant-head feet, which are found in his Japonisme oeuvre, particularly on a superb garniture de cheminée conceived by Lièvre in 1875 and on an aquarium of the same date, the latter, like the present example, signed 'Barbedienne' (Connaissance des Arts, No. 228, 'Edouard Lièvre', Paris, 2004, pp. 28, 31 and 34). Bejewelled and exotic elephant heads regularly appear in Lièvre's designs, often at the top of supports, for example on an ormolu and enamel stand for a large 'Persian' vase, and on a patinated bronze and ormolu stand (op.cit., pp. 6 and 26).
Other characteristic 'oriental' motifs were introduced by Ferdinand Barbedienne and other manufacturers undoubtedly derived from designs by passionate diffusers of Le Japonisme, such as Lièvre, or Emile Reiber (d.1893), who worked for Christofle. These motifs include bands of cross-hatching and lappets also found on a pair of Chinese vases with closely related ormolu mounts to the present example signed 'Barbedienne' (Exhibition catalogue, Le Japonisme, Le goût de l'exotisme au XIE ème siècle, 24 September to 17 October 1998, p.2).
Edouard Lièvre (1828-1886) trained as a painter under Thomas Couture, before turning his attention to industrial design. His earliest important work was the vase persan designed for Christofle in 1874 and exhibited at the Paris Exposition universelle in 1878, 1889 and 1900. Among Lièvre's important clients were actress Sarah Bernhardt, courtesan Louise-Emilie Valtesse de la Bigne, and Albert Vieillard, director of Bordeaux's ceramics factory and an early Japonisme enthusiast. Following Lièvre's death, his designs were sold to Georges and Henri Pannier, owners of the elegant shop, L'Escalier de Cristal.
Other characteristic 'oriental' motifs were introduced by Ferdinand Barbedienne and other manufacturers undoubtedly derived from designs by passionate diffusers of Le Japonisme, such as Lièvre, or Emile Reiber (d.1893), who worked for Christofle. These motifs include bands of cross-hatching and lappets also found on a pair of Chinese vases with closely related ormolu mounts to the present example signed 'Barbedienne' (Exhibition catalogue, Le Japonisme, Le goût de l'exotisme au XIE ème siècle, 24 September to 17 October 1998, p.2).
Edouard Lièvre (1828-1886) trained as a painter under Thomas Couture, before turning his attention to industrial design. His earliest important work was the vase persan designed for Christofle in 1874 and exhibited at the Paris Exposition universelle in 1878, 1889 and 1900. Among Lièvre's important clients were actress Sarah Bernhardt, courtesan Louise-Emilie Valtesse de la Bigne, and Albert Vieillard, director of Bordeaux's ceramics factory and an early Japonisme enthusiast. Following Lièvre's death, his designs were sold to Georges and Henri Pannier, owners of the elegant shop, L'Escalier de Cristal.