Jean-Baptiste Olive (1848-1936) was a French painter of the second half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth specializing in landscape and marine frequently representing his native Provence. Unknown to the general public, it is celebrated on the Cote d'Azur, and in particular in Marseilles he painted many times for his pictures full of sunshine and light.

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The name of Rene Jules Lalique (1860-1945) is associated with the world of luxury and fashion either for his jewellery designs or his master glassmaker art. In the 20's, Lalique started the creation and the pproduction of car mascots in particular the famous Five Horses.

 

Lalique wants to bring art into everyday life and what he naturally turns to the revolutionary invention of the early 20th century, the automobile.

 

In 1920, Lalique decided to replace the conventional automobile radiator caps by works of his glass creation, the famous and rare mascot.

In 1925, at the l’Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes de Paris. André Citroën rented the Eiffel Tower and illuminated it every night with thedouble chevron of the brand and the name "Citroën". To equip the hood of his new car, the famous 5HP, he ordered a glass Lalique mascot. Thus was born the fifth mascot by Lalique, "Five Horses" representing five prancing horses.

 

 

Over the next seven years, Lalique created a total of 27 mascots, symbolizing the energy, speed and movement, religion, individuality and sensuality, each expressing the grace and details of human and animal forms.

The mascots were created from high quality glass with a clear matt or satin finish. They are usually signed "R. Lalique" followed by "France".

Given their fragility, few of these works have survived which explains the enthusiasm of collectors for these radiator caps transformed into works of art.

 

Lalique mascot are sought after by many collectors and afficionados and prices are very high. On average, a Five Horses mascot fetches between £9,000 to £10,000, but it is the Fox one which will get the top prize with only seven of them known.

 

Cédric Henon

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Of all the great sculptors of the second half of the 18th century, Claude Michel said Clodion is probably one of the best known and his name evokes in the minds of many an bacchanal in clay, a bas relief or a bronze cast saw in an auctioneer, a gallery, or at Drouot or in a museum.

 

Claude Michel said Clodion born in Nancy in 1738 the then capital of the duchy of Lorraine and spent his entire youth. In 1755, he left for Paris to entering apprenticeship in the studio of his maternal uncle the Baroque sculptor Lambert Sigisbert Adam (1700-1759). In 1759, Clodion integrates the workshop of Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (1714-1785) where he learned the new style into force the transition from Rococo and Neoclassical styles.

 

In 1759, our young sculptor wins the grand prize for sculpture from the Academie Royal and in 1761 the first silver medal for his studies after models. In 1762, Clodion left for Rome where he shared a studio with the sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. Its activity will be significant between 1767 and 1771. Catherine II of Russia, a great art lover, tries to ensure his presence in St. Petersburg, but he prefers to return to Paris.

 

Among his many clients include the chapter of Rouen and the States of Languedoc. Clodion frequently exhibited at the Salon. In 1782, he married Catherine Flore, daughter of the sculptor Augustin Pajou, whom he later divorced.

 

Clodion, "L'offrande au Dieu", © Ader

 

There are two major periods in his work.

 

The first is influenced by Pigalle in which his sculptures often small and in clay are inspired by Greek mythology. He frequently represents fauns and satyrs sensuously hugging a Bacchante. This is the turning point between the Baroque and Neoclassicism. In these terracotta, the theme of Bacchus and the lasciviousness of the modeled bring us back to the Baroque, while the choice of subjects directly inspired by antiquity announces the emerging Neoclassicism.

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Jules Rene Herve (1887-1981) was a French impressionist painter of our time. He is best known for his paintings depicting scenes of Parisian life full of light.

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Of all the great sculptors of the second half of the 19th century, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux is probably one of the best known and his name evokes in the minds of many a sculpture in bronze, marble or terracotta seen at auction, in a gallery, at Drouot or in a museum.

 

His beginnings

 

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux was born in 1827 in Valenciennes in a working class family particularly poor. Son and grandson of a mason, he joined early on as an apprentice to a master plasterer, training applicant to know how to draw, is enrolled in the Academy de Peinture, Sculpture et Architecture in Valenciennes. In 1838 he moved to Paris and took courses at the Ecole Gratuite drawing, also called Petite Ecole, until 1843.

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Eugène Galien Laloue (1854-1941) is an impressionist painter specializing in paintings of Paris during the Belle Epoque. Very prolific artist, he produced some 5,000 paintings and 1,000 works in oil representing Paris but also landscapes.

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Philocale auction house, Matthieu Semont auctioneer, in collaboration with our experts specialized in free valuation and free appraisal sold at auction a French 18th century silver and blue glass jam pot, Tuesday 26th November in Orleans.

 

Confiturier en argent à cannelures ajourées, cerclé d'un rinceau de laurier formant porte-cuillers, couvercle sommé d'un couple de colombes.

Poinçon R couronné, maître orfèvre JBN, XVIIIe siècle.

Le couvercle poinçonné d'une feuille.

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