Featured French pottery with bronze figures

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/d...bronze-vase-signed-mansch-paris/id-f_8110503/

 

There is limited info in pix of broken pottery meant to look like waves. To know what Mansch had in mind, we need to know what each figure is doing. If we have an idea of the scene, we might come up with some words that will make successful search terms.

So. Two sea birds & one very wet woman and a trio of putti. One putto is holding out a laurel wreath. What are the rest of them up to? Think one is blowing a triton shell. The other is doing what?



Please show them lit & from the front.

 

Interesting guy. Worked in an assortment of media. Have seen vessels in bronze, pewter & tin, or described as such.

http://www.artnet.com/artists/ignaz-mansch/

 

Another of these:



http://www.ebay.com/itm/223135105366

 

Quartet. What's this one doing?

 

A change of pace:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-ignaz-mansch-1867-1926-bronze-510470462

 

Surprised they have a title for this but aren't sure about author:

https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels...mer-life-attributed-to-ignaz-mansch-1867-1926

 

Pinterest, no further info other than Mansch:

 

Maybe this is Desire of Women:



http://www.ebay.de/itm/222361943843

 

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...t-nouveau-vessels-with-putti-528-c-c264893b82

 

What is becoming clear is that OP's piece is very unusual for Mansch, in the mixed media, number of figures + the birds, & the form of the vessel. Or I think so, not really sure how it would look assembled, but my impression is that it is a bowl with the waves spreading out around the rim. From the size of the fragments, looks more like it fell apart from its own weight rather than having been shattered.

Not sure we can answer the question of whether it is worth having restored. The piece may be one of a kind, so more valuable, but now in far from perfect condition, so value significantly diminished from what it could have been. Restoration needs to be done professionally. Cost of that...?

 

I don't have access to the piece at the moment, it's at my mother's house. I have cut some new images from the pics I do have as below.

Thanks to responders for their information and advice

Neil

 

I'd try to put together all ceramic pieces with a water based/removable glue to see if all pieces are present,don't bother to add/fix the bronzes, as it would be too heavy for a temporary gluing... This may give a better idea of the whole piece too, and see if it is worth a restore. (IMO, I would)

 

This one looks like he's holding a broken conch-type shell, with the inner spiral exposed, although it also has somewhat the appearance of a torch.



Kyra's suggestion seems like a good one: see if there is enough material for a good restoration to be done. I couldn't find any other ceramics by Mansch; an experiment? Or others also have not survived intact?

 

Thank you Kyratango, I'm happy to attempt a repair with a water based/removable glue if I feel I'm not going to do any further damage. It's unlikely that I'll get chance to do this for a few weeks though.

Do you have a recommendation for the type of glue to use please? This is all new to me.

Regards. Neil

 

Never used that, but I suppose wallpaper glue would be fine
Be aware this is in no way a restoration
It isn't strong enough to maintain in long time!
Only aim is to be able to put together all ceramic pieces and see if they are all there, and to get an idea of the whole design of the piece.
I'm sure it is worth to have it professionally restored