circa 1890
Height: 32cm (12.5in)
Patinated bronze. Portrait bust portraying a brooding Emperor in trademark bicorn hat and greatcoat, cast by the Pinedo foundry, Paris and applied with a miniature Legion d’Honneur to the breast, the whole set on a verde antico stepped base applied with ormolu mounts. The reverse of the bust cast with the bronze guarantee foundry mark and Pinedo signature.
The Pinedo bronze foundry was established before 1850 at 25 Rue de Bretagne. In 1855, L. Pinedo relocated the foundry to 110 Rue St. Louis-au-Marias. In 1865 the sculptor Emile Pinedo (1840-1916) took over the the running of the firm, which, operating thenceforth under the trade name Emile Pinedo & Fils, produced art bronzes and furnishings from studios at 18 Boulevard du Prince Eugene and 49 Rue de Bondy. The Pinedo bust of Napoleon I is arguably the foundry’s best work, being cast in a variety of desktop sizes over several decades. The present example benefits from being larger than most of these scarce models without being cumbersome and clearly displays the depth of patination that won the foundry acclaim at the Chicago exposition of 1893.