19th Century French Napoleon III Hand Painted Faience and Bronze Converted Oil Lamp

19th Century French Napoleon III Hand Painted Faience and Bronze Oil Lamp has been converted into an electric table lamp. Crafted in France, circa 1880s, the hand painted porcelain “lampe a petrole” sits on the heavy bronze doré base and is a splendid example of faience hand painted with floral motif. This faience lamp is in excellent condition with new wiring.
Newly electrified, and including hand-sewn silk shade!
Circa 1880s ~ measures 31H x 18 in diameter including shade.
Signed by the makers, Thiébaut Frères who began operating a foundry in Paris beginning around 1851 thanks to Victor Thiébaut, in order to produce works of art. Initially casting raw bronzes for other founders to finish, Thiébaut went into partnership with several famous sculptors: David d’Angers, Carpeaux, Falguière, Carrier-Belleuse, Paul Dubois and Pradier. The factory also made vases, cups and fireside accessories, as well as monumental pieces, such as Saint Michel striking down the dragon designed by Duret for the Saint-Michel’s fountain in Paris. A Dumont of Napoleon I was designed for the Vendôme column. Thiébaut gradually became blind so that by 1870, his three sons, Victor (1849-1908), Jules (1854-1898) and Henri who was also sculptor (1855-1899) became the heads of the firm. During that period the company took part in many exhibitions and made literally tons of outstanding monumental works: Gloria Victis by Mercié, a monument devoted to the Defense of Paris by Barrias, a statue of Alexandre Dumas Père and the vase called Le Poème de la Vigne now located in the San Francisco Museum, both made by Gustave Doré. The list goes on and on! Eventually Victor Thiébaut split his firm. He associated Fumière and Gavignot and created a subsidiary company called “Thiébaut Frères, Fumière and Gavignot Successeurs. This subsidiary company was located on the l’Avenue de l’Opéra. At that time, works were marked “Thiébaut Frères, Fumière and Gavignot Successeurs”. In 1898, Rodin signed a contract with this company regarding the casting of two of his works in different sizes: Saint John the Baptist and Triumphant youth. Finally in 1901, Victor Thiébaut sold the firm to Gasne and retired.