ARMAND ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)
Lot 159 TWO IMPORTANT WORKS BY ARMAND ALBERT RATEAU, EXECUTED BY VALSUANI, 1934-1937
PROPERTY OF A LADY


"As proprietor, 1974-1980, of the C. Valsuani foundry, 74 Rue de Plantes, Paris 14ième, I was recently able to examine the company archives, comprising of various folios relating to orders and invoices. These cover the period 1924-1979, and are categorized into periods representing the following periods: 1924-1945, 1930-1958, 1958-1974, and 1974-1979. Examination of these archives allows the long-standing question of a collaboration between Armand Albert Rateau and Valsuani to be finally resolved, as now confirmed by the company's order books. These documents precisely identify a period of collaboration towards the end of the decorator's career, between 1934-1937, and are recorded in the folios covering the period 1930-1958. These are identified as being four dates for works commissioned between 1934-1937, documented on pages 92, 104, 119 and 120 of the records. The existence of the stamps of the Valsuani foundry, alongside those of Rateau, on certain works of this later period are therefore logical.

I am delighted that my research is able to contribute to a greater understanding of the works of this artist."


Anne Demeurisse
Expert CNES

ARMAND ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)

A PAIR OF 'PALMES' TORCHÈRES, CIRCA 1934-1937

Closed14 June 2012

Price Realised

USD 278,500

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How to sell

ARMAND ALBERT RATEAU (1882-1938)
A PAIR OF 'PALMES' TORCHÈRES, CIRCA 1934-1937
lost wax cast by Valsuani, green-patinated bronze
each 63 in. (160 cm.) high
the base of each torchère stamped A.A. Rateau modèle Déposé Paris and cire C. Valsuani Perdue Bronze (2)