ANTIQUE CHARPENTIER DUVAL JANVIER BRONZE PLAQUE ART NOUVEAU MEDAL PRESS PARIS FR
A superb antique FRENCH ART NOUVEAU BRONZE PLAQUETTE designed by:
ALEXANDRE-LOUIS-MARIE CHARPENTIER
for the celebrated Paris medal-making firm:
DUVAL-JANVIER
The plaque depicts a powerful shirtless worker operating a traditional:
MEDAL / COINING PRESS
and was created as a promotional work advertising the firm’s expertise in:
RÉDUCTION ET FRAPPE DE MÉDAILLES
or:
MEDAL REDUCTION AND STRIKING
A highly collectable piece of French medallic and industrial design from around 1900.
Details
Artist: Alexandre-Louis-Marie Charpentier
Firm: Duval-Janvier / Duval et Janvier
Location: Paris, France
Address: 22 Rue de Montmorency, Paris
Date: Circa 1900–1908
Material: Bronze
Type: Advertising / Promotional Art Plaquette
Subject: Medal Striking / Coining Press
Style: Art Nouveau
Form: Octagonal / Shaped Plaque
Approx. Size: Around 60 x 52 mm, subject to actual measurement
Please refer to the photographs for the exact dimensions, weight, inscriptions, edge markings and condition.
Alexandre-Louis-Marie Charpentier
ALEXANDRE-LOUIS-MARIE CHARPENTIER (1856–1909)
was an important French sculptor, medallist and decorative artist associated with:
ART NOUVEAU
and the wider movement toward integrating fine art with craftsmanship and industrial design.
His work is admired for:
STRONG FIGURE MODELLING
NATURALISTIC RELIEF
INDUSTRIAL SUBJECTS
DECORATIVE SIMPLICITY
SCULPTURAL POWER
and this Duval-Janvier plaque is one of his best-known medallic compositions.
Duval-Janvier
The plaquette was produced for:
DUVAL-JANVIER
a Parisian firm specialising in:
MEDAL REDUCTION
DIE MAKING
MEDAL STRIKING
MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION
The company operated from:
22 RUE DE MONTMORENCY, PARIS
an address frequently associated with surviving examples of this plaque.
Réduction et Frappe de Médailles
The plaque promotes the technical process of:
RÉDUCTION ET FRAPPE DE MÉDAILLES
meaning:
REDUCTION AND STRIKING OF MEDALS
During this period, medal makers increasingly used mechanical reduction systems to translate a sculptor’s larger model into a smaller die suitable for striking medals.
This innovation transformed medal production and allowed artists to work on a more sculptural scale.
Worker at the Medal Press
The central figure is a:
SHIRTLESS MALE WORKER
operating a large traditional:
BALANCIER / SCREW PRESS
used for striking medals or coins.
His muscular pose emphasises:
LABOUR
CRAFT
INDUSTRY
TECHNICAL SKILL
and gives the plaque a particularly strong visual impact.
Industrial Art
Unlike purely allegorical medals, this design celebrates the actual physical process of making medals.
That makes it especially interesting to collectors of:
MEDALLIC ART
MINTING HISTORY
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
COINING MACHINERY
ART NOUVEAU
It is essentially an artwork about the production of artworks.
Art Nouveau Design
The plaque is a fine example of:
FRENCH ART NOUVEAU
with its emphasis on:
ORGANIC MODELLING
HUMAN LABOUR
CRAFTSMANSHIP
FUNCTIONAL BEAUTY
rather than traditional academic ornament.
The shaped octagonal format adds to its distinctive modern appearance.
Museum Interest
Examples of this design are represented in major museum collections, including institutions such as:
THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM
and:
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
which underlines the design’s importance within French decorative and medallic art.
Date
Comparable examples are generally dated around:
CIRCA 1900–1908
with some museum catalogues placing the design around the early years of the 20th century.
Without a dated inscription on this specific plaque, I would keep the dating broad rather than assigning a single exact year.
Bronze Construction
The piece is described as:
BRONZE
with the naturally aged patina expected of a plaque over a century old.
Bronze examples may show:
BROWN
CHESTNUT
OLIVE
DARK PATINATION
depending on handling and storage.
Please inspect the photographs for any edge or foundry marks.
Collector Appeal
This plaque should appeal to collectors of:
Alexandre Charpentier
Duval-Janvier
French Bronze Plaques
Art Nouveau
Medal Making
Coining Presses
Minting History
Industrial Art
French Medallic Art
Paris Collectables
Early 20th-Century Sculpture
Highlights
ALEXANDRE-LOUIS-MARIE CHARPENTIER
DUVAL-JANVIER
FRENCH ART NOUVEAU
BRONZE PLAQUETTE
Medal striking / coining press subject
Shirtless industrial worker
Reduction and striking theme
Paris workshop association
Circa 1900–1908
Museum-represented design
Strong industrial and medallic collector appeal
A particularly desirable antique Charpentier bronze plaque for Duval-Janvier, combining French Art Nouveau sculpture with the history and technology of medal production.
Condition & Attribution
The plaque is in honest antique condition with wear consistent with age and handling.
Please inspect the photographs carefully for any:
SURFACE MARKS
PATINATION
EDGE KNOCKS
RUBBING TO HIGH POINTS
MINOR SCRATCHES
CASTING / STRIKING VARIATIONS
GENERAL AGE-RELATED WEAR
where visible.
The artist attribution to Alexandre-Louis-Marie Charpentier and the association with Duval-Janvier are based on the known design and inscriptions.
The dating is given broadly as circa 1900–1908 because published catalogues vary slightly.
The material is described as bronze based on the supplied information and appearance.
Please use the photographs as the definitive guide to the signature, inscriptions, dimensions, edge markings, patina and overall condition.
🖼️ Item Condition:
This item is in honest antique condition. I’ve included detailed photographs to show the condition, size, weight, inscriptions, edge markings and patina, so please review them carefully before placing your bid.
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