A Pair Of Late Nineteenth Century French Cast Iron Urns

A handsome pair of late nineteenth century French cast iron urns, both classical vase-shaped urns with a circular egg-and-dart rim and gadrooning around the lower body, flanked by tightly scrolled handles that continue vertically up the sides of the main body, on a spreading circular stepped foot upon a square base
France, date circa 1890-1900
Height 73 cm, width 56 cm. each.
By the late nineteenth century, French cast iron urns were becoming prominent features in gardens, parks, and public squares, reflecting the artistic trends of the time and the industrial capabilities of a rapidly modernised nation. These decorative yet functional objects embodied the tradition of grandeur in French decorative arts while simultaneously exploiting the technical advances brought by the Industrial Revolution. Cast iron, a material prized for its durability, malleability in design, and relatively low cost compared to bronze, marble or other stone, became the medium of choice for large-scale ornamental urns that adorned both private estates and civic spaces throughout France and beyond. Despite their utilitarian purpose as planters, they were undeniably aesthetic objects. Their presence in the landscape was as much about visual harmony and refinement as it was about horticulture. They could be seen flanking staircases, punctuating pathways, or crowning balustrades, often in symmetrical pairs.
The majority of garden urns were designed in the antique manner and adorned with classical motifs that reflected the appeal during the latter half of the nineteenth century for past historical styles. Typical forms included fluted bowls, acanthus leaves, lion heads, mythological figures, swags, and scrolling handles, reminiscent of ancient Greco-Roman vessels. However, the present pair are unusual in that although the overall shape as well as the egg-and-dart banding and gadrooned lower body look back to antiquity, the handles are far more geometric and modern in design.
Casting of such urns was undertaken by a number of distinguished French foundries whose work is still appreciated today for its quality and artistry. One of the most notable was Barbezat et Cie at Val d’Osne in the Haute-Marne. Founded in 1835 by Jean Pierre Victor André (1790-1851), in 1855 the foundry was then acquired from André’s widow by Gustave Henri Barbezat (1818-67) who renamed the business Barbezat & Cie. After Gustave Barbezat’s death in 1867, Barbezat & Cie was acquired by Houille & Cie. Three years later it was restyled as the Société Anonyme des Hauts-Fourneaux & Founderies du Val d’Osne and continued as such up until circa 1930. Keen to advertise their wares, throughout the nineteenth century the foundry published catalogues of their work which contained hundreds of illustrations of their cast iron pieces, from statues, gates and benches to fountains and urns, of which their publication of 1900 featured over 250 different designs and sizes of garden urns. Such catalogues allowed clients across Europe and further afield to select ornate designs for public and private commissions.
Another significant producer of cast iron garden urns was the Corneau Frères foundry established at Charleville in the Ardennes, which was begun in 1846 by Alfred-Henry Corneau (1825-86) and his brother Émile-Joseph Corneau (1826-1906) and then succeeded by two of Alfred’s son-in-law Albert Deville (1844-1913) and Henri-Joseph-Antoine Pailliette (b. 1853). The Durenne foundry, also in Haute-Marne, established by Antoine Durenne (1822-95) was another key figure in the development of French cast iron production. Based in Sommevoire, Durenne’s enterprise eventually merged with the nearby foundry at Val d’Osne. In addition to France there were a number of equally accomplished foundries in England that produced cast iron urns and other garden statuary including Handyside at the Britannia Iron Works in Derby as well as the Coalbrookdale Company in Shropshire, both situated close to ready supplies of iron ore as well as coal and water.
The late nineteenth century was also a time of significant urban redevelopment across France, under figures like Baron Haussmann in Paris. Cast iron urns became part of the urban fabric. Many were installed in newly created public parks such as the Parc Monceau in Paris, which though originally laid out in 1778 was updated under Baron Haussmann’s supervision and opened to the public in 1861. Six years later the Parc des Buttes Chaumont was opened to the public, again as part of Haussmann’s renovation of Paris. They contributed to the overall vision of a city that was modern yet cultured, industrial yet refined. In this context, the urns were more than mere containers for plants—they were cultural signifiers, suggesting an idealized classical past within a new, mechanized modernity.
Private estates, especially those of the bourgeoisie, followed suit in emulating aristocratic garden designs. Cast iron urns became accessible luxury items, allowing homeowners to infuse their gardens with a touch of sophistication, but at an affordable price. Whereas once only noble estates could afford marble or bronze ornamentation, now respectable households could emulate this tradition with durable cast iron versions that weathered the elements and over time gained a desirable patina.