Object Description
An Exceptional Exhibition-Quality Bronze Coupe
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Designed by Ferdinand Levillain
& Sculpted by Charles Cauchois
The largest bronze coupe available from the famous foundry, this patinated and parcel gilt vessel was especially sculpted by the star ‘ciseleur’ Charles Cauchois, almost certainly as a special order. Supported on its integral fluted socle with a running band of anthemia, the large oval coupe having a gadrooned bottom surface, both ends with curved twin-handles heightened with a relief of trailing vines, and flanked by large lion masks with flowing manes; the entire coupe depicting a bas-relief of the ‘suovetaurilia,’ one of the most sacred and traditional rites of Ancient Rome, showing Roman citizens offering a triple sacrifice of a ram, a boar, and a bull to the deity Mars who is represented by a statue on his altar. Signed ‘F. Barbedienne,’ also ‘F. Levillain,’ and bearing Cauchois’s initials ‘Ch. C.’
French, circa 1880
A documented Barbedienne model, a photograph of which is kept at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, this design was the largest coupe offered by the foundry. The casting and finishing of all Barbedienne casts was a very specialised process sometimes taking months to complete. The presence of Cauchois’s initials on this piece confirms the importance of the cast as he was the star ‘ciseleur’ of the foundry. The large coupe was only available by custom order, with a smaller rectangular version available for direct purchase from their catalogue.