Help me 'Antique Roadshow' this french sculpture.

January 13, 2016 6:28 AM

I've stumbled across a little french sculpture from 1984, and I'd like to know more about it - but I can't figure out who made it...

I'm trying to find out about this french sculpture, but I can't figure out the signature. Any thoughts on what it is, and if the person made it is a nobody or a somebody? It's looks like its from France in 1984, and there's a line that says 'v.3384'. The signature is a long name that starts with a B (I think) but I can't quite make it out.

Front
Back
Signature 1
Signature 2

I'm assuming this is some random corporate art, but it's an intriguing mystery to me. Any details would be appreciated.

posted by evadery to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

I think it's B. Dougiauge but no google results with that spelling.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:40 AM on January 13, 2016

I have not tried it myself but your question reminded me of these guys who pitched on Dragons Den a few years back. Maybe worth a shot? Good luck.
posted by numberstation at 6:51 AM on January 13, 2016

Is it ceramic or something else?
posted by papayaninja at 7:51 AM on January 13, 2016

Response by poster: It's metal with leathery-type stuff on top of it.
posted by evadery at 8:27 AM on January 13, 2016

Btw, since it's not really obvious: to see the larger size (1600 x 1200 px) on the pics, click the image, then click "view raw image," bottom left on the popup.
posted by taz at 9:32 AM on January 13, 2016

I suggest that name is "b. dag*auge", with * being either an error (so, not a letter at all, putting the name at "b. degauge") or an I or an R executed poorly. It may also be "b. dagrange." If it's easier to view the letter-by letter possibilities:

b	d	a	g	r	a	u	g	e
				i		n 	j	
						m		

You could probably call a fine arts museum near you and ask them for a recommendation to someone who knows a lot about metalworker hallmarks. I looked in one index to see if an obvious one jumped out, but no dice. For French works, these are often in the form of two letters plus a symbol. These can be indexed, like here. You'd be looking for something like this very pulled-out-of-my-ass example:

Name
Initials on stamp
Symbol on stamp
Description of who [Name] is

Dagrange, Bernard
D.B.
un marteau / un marteau de cerclage / un maillet / etc.
Fabricant
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 12:29 PM on January 13, 2016

Best answer: It's a work by Bernard Delagrange (1935-2006, obit in French). He was a local artist working in Bourges. Hint: no French person (who love cursive) would write the first "b" like that. It's actually a mirrored "d" doubling as a "b" (for BD).
posted by elgilito at 6:18 AM on January 14, 2016 [3 favorites]