19th Century French Bronze “Carte-de-Visite” Platter with a “Hunting Theme” in High Relief by Auguste Nicolas Cain 1831-1894

Amazingly carved in high relief this bronze platter is meant to collect “calling cards with a portrait ” or a “carte-de-visite” which was very popular, beginning in mid 19th century and invented by a French photographer in 1854. The platter has a “hunting theme” centered with a carved “hunting pouch and horn” in high relief and signed by Cain on the front of the wide circular rim of carved birds. The 4 legs are designed as tree branches.

August Nicholas Cain (1831-1894) was clearly influenced by his highly prolific and renowned father in-law Pierre Jules Mene, but also was a student of Rude and Alexandre Guionnet. He married Mene’s daughter in 1852, something of a tradition for many Paris artists who married their mentor’s daughters in order to carry on the family business without complications. During his father-in-law’s lifetime, they cast works together in Mene’s personal foundry, after which he took over the foundry and personally oversaw the business. After his death in 1894, Susse Brothers put forth a catalogue of his work and began casting his sculptures which he had regularly exhibited at the Salon, showing 38 sculptures between 1846 and 1888.

A beautifully carved bronze display piece that has a very interesting history of function and a practice of exchanging “calling cards” that rings true today in our culture.

Dimensions: diameter 13.5″ x height 3.25″