BY JOSEPH CHRET, CIRCA 1870

Gustave-Joseph Chret (1838-1894) studied sculpture under Carrier-Belleuse, later marrying one of his daughters. He exhibited at the Paris Salon during the 1860's and then again from 1875. Chret specialised in decorative statuettes, vases, centre-tables and fireplaces. On Carrier-Belleuse's death, he took over his master's role at the Svres factory and his designs and style proved ideally suited to translation into porcelain.