an important and monumental gilt-bronze and onyx torchère designed by Frédéric-Eugène Piat and manufatured by Maison Mottheau et Fils paris, circa 1900

surmounted by the figure of young male allegorical of power and a coquerel repesenting France, above a globe set with molded glass shades aloft an eagle, the column set with putti representing the Seasons and raised on a naturalistic base, some mounts have removed to reveal the mark EM from the bronze master model.

This model was exhibited at the Maison Motheau et fils stand at the Exposition Universelle de 1900, Paris.

L' art à l' exposition Universelle de 1900, Paris, 1900, p. 453 for an engraving of the present model.
Paris Belle Epoque, 1880-1914, Exhibition catalogue, Kulturstiftung Ruhr, Villa Hügel, Essen, 11 June-13 November 1994, cat. 21, pp. 226-228.

Frédéric-Eugène Piat (1827-1903) was a notorious French sculpteur-ornemaniste, creating mostly designs and models for clocks, wall-appliques, ceiling and table lamps, candelabras, and torchères. All of his deisigns were executed by the leading firms of Parisian high quality bronziers, such as Christofle, Colin, Lemerle-Charpentier, and as in the present lot, Maison Mottheau.

Maison Mottheau et fils were reknown Parisian bronzier specializing in lighting fixture. The Art Journal comments: "The French Section shows many examples of fine work applied under the new conditions, but we doubt if a more complete success is to be recorded to the credit of any exhibitor than can be conceded to Messieurs Mottheau et fils". See: The Art Journal, The Paris Exhibition 1900 - An Illustrated Record of its Art, Architecture and Industrie, London, 1900, pp. 86-7.