Important pair of seated lions. - Lot 196

Important pair of seated lions. Cast iron. Model of 1880, period cast To be compared with the work of Antoine Durenne, master forger at Sommevoire ( Haute-Marne) Height 124 cm , Length 152 cm Width 55 cm Antoine Durenne was a French cast-iron and bronze foundry, active, notably in Paris, France, between 1847 and 1930, and renowned for its ornamental ironwork and groups of life-size animal sculptures in cast iron, iron and bronze, examples of which can be found in several historic parks and gardens in the UK. The Durenne company was founded in 1847 when Antoine Durenne (b. 1822, d. 1895) bought a small foundry near his home in Sommevoire, near the Val d'Osne works in Haute-Marne, France. In 1855, the first blast furnaces were installed. In the 1860s, numerous examples of bas-reliefs, fountains, statues and vases were produced, and the company began exhibiting its products at various shows, including the 1862 International Exhibition in Paris. By the 1870s, the company was also producing balconies, balustrades, fireplaces and lamp posts, among other castings. In 1888, the foundry acquired the address of S.A.d.F. du Val d'Osne, Paris, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 26. It was listed on the Poissonnière list from 1896 to 1911. At some point before 1930, the foundry merged with another of similar size to form the Société Anonyme des Établissements Métallurgiques A Durenne et du Val d'Osne. In 1969, it was taken over by Société Générale de Fonderie d'Hydraulique et de Mécanique (GHM), which today continues to produce works in Antoine Durenne's original foundry at Sommevoire. Sources: Davis, John, Antique Garden Ornament (Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collectors' Club, 1991) Further reading: Durenne, Antoine, Fonte de Fer. A Durenne, Maitre de Forges: Edition de 1877 (Série F), catalog illustré (Paris, 1877).