BY FERDINAND BARBEDIENNE, PARIS, CIRCA 1860-70

This colorfully and exquisitely enameled garniture de cheminée is characteristic of Barbedienne’s finest work during the second half of the 19th century.  In 1886, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine chronicled the artistic bronzes of the Barbedienne firm, drawing specific attention to their accomplished and innovative enamel studio where Barbedienne went to great lengths to ‘avoid simply copying’ designs of Renaissance and Chinese enamels both in champlevé and cloisonné. Another garniture displaying equally accomplished yellow-ground enamel was ordered for William H. Vanderbilt’s Manhattan residence by the illustruous Herter Brothers firm, whose ties to the foundry began in 1867 when Gustave Herter and Ferdinand Barbedienne collaborated with head designer, Louis-Constant Sévin, on a lavish mantel clock.  Another garniture, similar to the Vanderbilt model in the Khalili Collections, sold Sotheby’s, London, 15 May 2014, lot 433 (£85,000).