A pair of late 19th century Louis XVI bronze-mounted cassolettes by Thiebaut Freres. Each with ovoid marble body, three supports with satyr masks, on a circular matching marble base with turned feet. Stamped Thiebaut Freres Fondeurs, Paris.

Such decorative items were created for the affluent class during the the La Belle Époque period which literally means “the beautiful era” in French, a period when classical style was considered essential to any proper interior. Sculpted from solid richly veined marble then mounted with intricately detailed bronze adornment, each is set upon footed pediments lavished with acanthus plumes and laurels.

La Belle Époque has been regarded as Europe’s golden age, a remarkable time that significantly altered the history of the continent and beyond. In less than fifty years, Europe witnessed vast developments on the political, socio-economic, cultural, and technological fronts. While generally heralded as a transformative era, La Belle Époque was a term that only came into popular use much later.

In the spirit of innovation and experimentation, La Belle Époque was also a time when art went through a great change. Prior to the 1870s, most artists remained conservative and adhered to the styles favored by the Académie des Beaux-Arts. It was known that the organization had preferred works that touched on traditional subject matter such as religious and historical topics. However, a group of artists later banded together to express their disdain toward such rigid interpretations of art. Popularizing non-realistic brushwork and painting everyday scenes, this group came to be known as the Impressionists. It consisted of now-famous artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro. This movement would later influence the artists who spearheaded emerging styles such as Post-Impressionism, as well as Fauvism.

From the mid-1880s onwards, Post-Impressionist artists such as Paul Cézanne and Vincent Van Gogh would continue to push the limitless boundaries of artistic freedom. Characterized by bold brushstrokes, distorted forms, and stylistic abstraction, their works defined the period leading up to the turn of the 20th century. As the 1900s unfolded, it witnessed the birth of newer, more avant-garde art styles such as Modernism, as well as Cubism, which was pioneered by iconic painter Pablo Picasso. This was also concurrent with the popularisation of illustrations and posters, mostly employed to advertise cultural events. Decked out in bright, exuberant colors with Art Nouveau influences, these posters characterized the zeitgeist of La Belle Époque. A household name associated with such illustrative art forms was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a Post-Impressionist artist whose works were plastered all over cafes, cabarets, and other nightlife spots in fin-de-siecle Paris.

Materials and Techniques: Bronze,Marble,Gilt on tripartite bases
Place of Origin: France
Period: 19th Century
Date of Manufacture: circa 1885
Condition: GoodWear consistent with age and use.