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A Cast Iron 19th Century Garden Sculpture by J. J. Ducel et Fils

February 18, 2010

Historic Collections

 

Between the Queen Anne Cottage and the Coach Barn there is a large cast iron garden sculpture of two women holding aloft a basket of fruit and flowers.

 Ducel cast iron sculpture

 It was cast by J. J. Ducel et Fils, in Paris probably in the middle of the 19th century. Ducel produced high quality sculpture, fountains, and decorative pieces such as urns for gardens and public parks. The quality of the iron is exceptional and the Arboretum’s sculpture is in excellent shape although it appears to have been painted at least twice and most of the paint has peeled off.

Detail of Ducel sculpture

We are not quite sure what the original surface would have looked like. It may have been painted an off white color.

Another detail of the Ducel sculpture

In the shade of the trees it can be found alongside a path connecting the two buildings. We are considering having the work conserved and moved to a more prominent position. It deserves more attention since the quality of the work is quite remarkably good.

Ducel patina

Ultimately known simply as Val d’Osne, the merging of a number of small foundries led to a firm with the unwieldy name Société Anonyme des Hauts-Fourneaux et Fonderies du Val-D'Osne, Anciennes maisons J. P. V. André et J. J. Ducel et Fils. By taking advantage of new iron casting techniques resulting from the industrial revolution and using a sculptors who exhibited at the Paris Salon, the firm was able to produce exceptional works. 

 

Louis Aimé Lejeune’s “Je n’oublerai pas”

February 10, 2010

Historic Collections

A memorial for Elias J. Baldwin commissioned by is daughter Anita Baldwin.

Je n’oublerai pas by the sculptor Louis Aimé Lejeune was commissioned in 1930 by Anita Baldwin as a memorial for her father, Elias J. Baldwin or “Lucky Baldwin”. Baldwin was the owner of the Santa Anita Ranch from 1875 until his death in 1909 as well as the founder of the city of Arcadia and its first Mayor. The phrase is the motto of the Baldwin family and the work also bears the Baldwin family crest, a squirrel holding three acorns and three pairs of oak leaves.  

 Baldwin family crest "je n'oublerai pas" I will not forget

In 2009 with funds provided by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission it was cleaned and moved to a new location in the Arboretum’s Day Lily Garden by professional conservators.

Detail of je n'oublerai pas

 On a bright sunny day following the winter rains the work practically glows. The present location allows visitors to view the work to much greater advantage.

  In the Day Lily Garden

Lejeune was working for the Huntington family in 1926 when Anita Baldwin commissioned him to do a bronze fountain for her house Anoakia as well as her father’s memorial. 

 

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