Lot Essay
Frédéric-Jules Rudolphi ranks alongside François-Désiré Froment-Meurice and Jules Wièse as one of the outstanding representatives of the goldsmith's craft of French Romantic Historicism, which had been techinically and stylistically shaped by Carl Wagner and Jacques-Henri Fauconnier during the 1820s and 30s.
Born in Copenhagen in 1808, Rudolphi worked under and collaborated with Carl Wagner. On the latter's death in 1841, Rudolphi continued his workshop and in 1844 and 1849 participated in Paris industrial exhibitions, initially under Wagner's name, but then under his own. At the same time he also collaborated with modellers, goldsmiths and engravers such as Geoffroy-Dechaume, Edouard Verraux and Jules and Alexandre Plouin. In 1851, along with Froment-Meurice, Rudolphi exhibited at the Crystal Palace Exhibition and was awarded a Council Medal. In his sumptuous pieces of jewellery and figural works, Rudolphi adopted the motifs of the Neo-Gothic and Neo-Renaissance and, to the annoyance of contemporary critics, combined these with elements of the so-called 'Second Rococco' period. The present work, typical of Rudolphi's oeuvre may have formed part of the sale of over 100 of the goldsmith's creations, held at the Hôtel Drouot on 14 March, 1857. Other examples of Rudolphi's work can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Born in Copenhagen in 1808, Rudolphi worked under and collaborated with Carl Wagner. On the latter's death in 1841, Rudolphi continued his workshop and in 1844 and 1849 participated in Paris industrial exhibitions, initially under Wagner's name, but then under his own. At the same time he also collaborated with modellers, goldsmiths and engravers such as Geoffroy-Dechaume, Edouard Verraux and Jules and Alexandre Plouin. In 1851, along with Froment-Meurice, Rudolphi exhibited at the Crystal Palace Exhibition and was awarded a Council Medal. In his sumptuous pieces of jewellery and figural works, Rudolphi adopted the motifs of the Neo-Gothic and Neo-Renaissance and, to the annoyance of contemporary critics, combined these with elements of the so-called 'Second Rococco' period. The present work, typical of Rudolphi's oeuvre may have formed part of the sale of over 100 of the goldsmith's creations, held at the Hôtel Drouot on 14 March, 1857. Other examples of Rudolphi's work can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.