Offered by L'Egide Antiques
Porcelain, Scuptures, paintings and european Fine Arts, 18th and 19th century
A superb pair of oval vases on pedestals with goat-head handles. In the center are two scenes from François-René de Chateaubriand’s novel, *Atala, or The Love of Two Savages in the Desert*, published in 1801. The reverse is gilded and engraved with Empire-style decorative elements such as winged lions, a palm tree, a spear, and a hunting horn. The entire piece features high-quality gilding that is brilliant and very well preserved. The handles, which remain partially in bisque, are also gilded. The bases imitate porphyry, which is very rare. Delicately hand-signed in black on the glaze, “Darte Frères à Paris,” and bearing the original label “Darte Frères, rue de la Roquette à Paris, n°90, Faubourg St-Antoine” (rare).
Siez: H 33.5 cm – base 10cm x 10 cm
Darte Frères in Paris, Empire period.
Lit: Darte in Paris was one of the prestigious porcelain manufacturers in Paris. There were three Darte brothers: Joseph (1765–1832), Louis Joseph (1766–1843), and Jean François (1768–1834). In 1795, they entered the porcelain business and purchased a factory in Paris, located at 3 rue de Charonne. The three brothers also opened a shop at the Palais Royal, under the management of Jean François. In 1804, they parted ways amicably, each taking their share of utensils and porcelain. Brothers Louis Joseph and Jean François founded a new company, retaining the name Darte Frères, and set up shop on Rue de la Roquette, while Joseph Darte continued under the name “Darte Ainé à Paris” and established himself on Rue de Popincourt.
The brothers prospered (employing 80 to 100 workers in peacetime), and an advertisement from 1809 announced that the factory bore the title “Porcelain Manufactory of H.I.H. Her Majesty the Mother of His Majesty the Emperor and King.” In 1816, a second store opened at 16 Rue de Vienne (the first, at the Palais Royal, had been in operation since 1798). The factory participated in the 1819 exhibition and, as in 1806, won a silver medal. However, things took a turn for the worse in 1820, and three years later the brothers divided up the assets of the struggling company. In 1824, Louis Joseph went into partnership with one of his sons, Auguste Remi, but the business declined a year later. In 1828, bankruptcy was declared.
Over the course of 20 years, the Darte brothers’ production was substantial, characterized by rich decorations (often on colored backgrounds), abundant gold, and tasteful paintings, all rendered in vivid, well-glazed colors.
Delevery information :
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