Featured Small French Photo Frame with Military Interest

I have a small silver plate photo frame that I found in a brocante in Normandy and am wondering about its origins and meaning.

It has the French Gallic Rooster sitting on a plinth with the letter F. Two sets of initials are on both bottom corners as shown in the photos.

The photo came with the frame.

Any help identifying the meaning of the frame would be much appreciated. I might have to do a separate thread to ask about the initials in the silver plate.

 

There should be no ambiguity about the meaning of the frame. It represents France in World War I. There are the French symbols Marianne and the Rooster at top and bottom. On the sides are images of destruction to both the natural (trees) and man-made (village) world. And below is a cannon with artillery shell. The initials would be those of the frame's modeler and maker.

Debora

 

Looks like the uniform of the Chasseurs Alpin but someone else will know better than I.

Debora

 

You could ask the moderators to move this thread to the silver forum.

I can say that ED is the artist, CVR is the manufacturer's mark. Who they are I don't know, but someone else may know the answer.

 

Thank you Inh.

 

Artist Jean-Baptiste Émile Dropsy working in Paris in the WW1 time period. Maybe research his work and see if he every signed, E.D.

From here->

Emile DROPSY 1848 - 1923
Who were these figures who influenced Emile Drospy? Only a thorough study of special archives, if they still exist, could answer that.

Thus, Emile Drospy anbandonned his fathers’ trade, and began his apprenticeship as a metal engraver with Lemoine, set up in Paris on the quai de Jemmapes, while attending drawing lessons. Having become an excellent engraver, he set up his own business. Then, at the age of thirty, when one finishes studying if one has not done so long ago, he eagerly started modelling medals under Ferdinand Levillain’s direction. As he had to make a living and circumstances allowed him to sell religious medals, he devoted many long years to this genre, trying to make them look polished and agreeable, according to the buying public’s taste.

Nevertheless, in his spare time and working for his own pleasure, he produced works which were displayed at the “Salon des Artistes Français” around 1900, and earned him a third, then a second medal. It is in these works that the artists put the best of himself.

He took up some religious subjects, but only to turn them into true works of art, and not longer mere “souvenir” medals. Nature was also one of his favourite subjects. Amidst a landscape, in a farmhouse interior, on a coast of Brittany, he set human figures, domesticated animals.

He treats his medals with a certain fullness, and one cannot help being surprised that the author was formerly a craftsmen used to the fine work of engraving. Nothing recalls the meticulousness of engraving, on the contrary, his vision is a large one, his touch free and broad.

Even though he had the skills which allowed him to express himself entirely and flawlessly, Emile Drospy was never tempted to boast on his purely technical qualities. He never became the slave of his knowledge. And this was lucky. He religiously inspired works still bear a certain simplicity, an ingenuity, which can not easily be found in other artists’ works of this genre. His landscapes show nature as rural and genuine, represented with sincerity and truthfulness. His human figures seem very natural.

He didn’t state any theory; he had no principle, but gave way to his sensitivity, and was only concerned with being true. Far from controlling his emotions, he let them take over his being, and that is why his medals are so moving.

Mostly unknown during his lifetime, Emile Drospy appears today as an extremely appealing artist. He may be considered as the truest of religious medal makers, and the sincere of landscapers.

 

Thanks everyone for all your help. Especially the information on Emile Drospy - much appreciated

 

Is this anything at the bottom of the oval?

 

Unfortunately this mark under the oval is just a bit of tarnish.

Does anybody think it would be helpful to repost in the silver forum with a title of 'Emile Dropsy?'.

Most of the Dropsy signed works I have found online are signed as E Dropsy and not his initials like my frame. Maybe quoting his name in a thread title would bring out some more interest? I'm open to any suggestions . A moment ago+ QuoteReply (Cited from: https://www.antiquers.com/threads/small-french-photo-frame-with-military-interest.91486/)

 

This thread has already been moved to the silver forum by one of the moderators. If anybody can tell you more, they will do so.
Sometimes someone comes across relevant information even months later, so it is worth checking your alerts regularly.