Google Answers Logo
View Question
 
Q: Historical european bronze art piece ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Historical european bronze art piece
Category: Arts and Entertainment
Asked by: ronsr-ga
List Price: $30.00
Posted: 25 May 2003 08:50 PDT
Expires: 24 Jun 2003 08:50 PDT
Question ID: 208448
I have an old bronze casting, possibly by the lost wax technique,
called
"Javotte" with the artists name on the side - E. Villaris. It is the
head, shoulders and bust of a young girl - weighs about 40 pounds,
stands 24 inches high. A beautiful bronze.
I would like to know if it has a history or is of value, for
information and insurance purposes. When I bought it over 30 years ago
in Amsterdam for $2,000 I was told it was a sculture of Napolean's
girl friend. I was also told it was a "listed piece" in France.
I really liked the piece and bought it - the Napolean and "listed
piece" comment I took as a sales comment and paid no attention to it.
However it has recently sparked my curiousity!
I would appreciate information on this antique or how I can obtain
information about it or the artist.
Thanks,
Ron Nelson.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Historical european bronze art piece
Answered By: scriptor-ga on 25 May 2003 10:32 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Dear ronsr,

I can answer your question; but I'm afraid that it might be a bit of a
desillusion for you.

The female bronze bust "Javotte" is the work of French sculptor
Emmanuel Villanis, who signed his busts "E. Villanis", with an "n"
that could be really easily misread for an "r". Please click the
following link to see an example of how Villanis signed one of his
works:
http://134.147.62.2/fhy/vill-signatur-07k.jpg
(Source: Website of F. Haberey, listed below)

Emmanuel Villanis was born in 1858 in Lille, France as the child of
parents from Northern Italy. His date of birth makes it impossible
that one of his works ever belonged to one of French emperor
Napoleon's mistresses: Napoleon I left France, defeated, in 1815 and
died in 1821 as British prisoner on the island of St. Helena. His
nephew Napoleon III reigned as French emperor from 1852 to 1870 and
died in 1873, when Villanis was only 15 years old and still . So,
dissaponting as this may be, there is no chance that his bust
"Javotte" is connected with the girlfriend of any of those two French
emperors (except if the woman in question bought it many, many years
later. But that would not be too remarkable).

But back to Emmanuel Villanis. Though he was was a famous sculptor in
the late Victorian era and the Art Nouveau period, hardly any facts
about the life of E. Villanis can be found in art literature. In his
young years, he received education as a sculptor in Italy. From 1886,
he is working in France. He exhibited at the Paris Salon from
1886-1914 and received an Honorable Mention at the Paris Exposition
Universelle in 1889. The apogee of his activity were the Art Nouveau
years around 1900. His works are almost exclusively female subjects.
His pieces are easily recognized by the artistic scrolling of the
subjects name below her face. Also readily identified as Villanis are
the perfect, ideally proportioned features of his women's faces; he
used a deep cut for the eyes - a technique that was in sharp contrast
to other sculptors of the time who tried to reproduce the natural
eyeball. The years around 1900 were the meridian of Villanis'
activities. He died in France in 1914.

The spelling of the name varies: Sometimes, it is Villani (Italian),
and sometimes Villanis (French). There are many reproductions,
adaptions, copies or fakes of his oeuvre. Most of them are made in the
US or Taiwan today. But there are also old reproductions that were
produced by French foundries like "Société des Bronzes de Paris",
"Eugen Blot" and others who were the legal manufacturers of Villanis'
works when he was still alive and working.

Of course, only an art expert could examine your bust and then let you
know whether it is a relatively new version, or an old and thus
valuable "original" reproduction.

F. Haberey is a German collector and expert for Emmanuel Villanis'
works. He offers help at getting information on the artist and
particular pieces. You can contact him using this e-mail address:
F.HABEREY@IEEE.ORG

You might want to have a look at these websites by Villanis expert
Haberey, providing additional information on the artist and his
sculptures:

Biography of E. Villanis, by F. Haberey
http://www.kinderinfo.de/haberey/florian/villvita-gb.htm

E. Villanis' Oeuvre, by F. Haberey
http://www.lwe.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/fhy/villwork.htm

Sculptures of E. Villanis, by F. Haberey
http://www.lwe.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/fhy/villpics.htm

VCC - International Villanis Collector Club
http://www.lwe.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/fhy/vcc.htm

E. Villanis Info Page, by F. Haberey
http://www.lwe.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/fhy/villinfo.htm


Other sources used:

Wishful Things: Bronze Sculpture Saida by Villanis
http://www.wishfulthings.com/catalog/Archives:Decorative_Art:Metals.html

JL Gallery Arts ETC: Villanis Reproductions
http://www.jlgalleryartsetc.com/villanis.htm


Search terms used:
javotte sculpture
://www.google.de/search?q=javotte+sculpture&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=de&meta=
"Emmanuel Villanis"
://www.google.de/search?q=%22Emmanuel+Villanis%22&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&start=10&sa=N
"Emmanuel Villanis" 1858
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22Emmanuel+Villanis%22+1858&meta=

Hope this was interesting, informative, and helpful for you!
Best regards,
Scriptor
ronsr-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars and gave an additional tip of: $20.00
First, this is the first time I have used this Google answers
software. I am most impressed with the response!
I am most grateful to finally know who the sculpture Villanis was. 
Far from being disapointed, I am delighted with the response. I have
meant to research Vallanis many times but never known how to start.
Thanks very much for such a complete answer. It is a delightful
sculpture - which is why I bought it. If it has actual value, that is
a plus, but a small one when compared to the pleasure we have obtained
from it over the years.
I will follow up from here. Thanks again.

Comments  
There are no comments at this time.

Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. Please read carefully the Google Answers Terms of Service.

If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by emailing us at answers-support@google.com with the question ID listed above. Thank you.
Search Google Answers for
Google Answers  


Google Home - Answers FAQ - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy