Pair of Maison Charles style pomegranate table lamps,
100 years of tradition and innovation in interior lighting
1908
Maison Charles is founded and managed by Ernest Charles. The company specializes in the reproduction of antique lighting and gains a reputation in the profession of bronze casting
1923
The company is taken over by Emile Charles.
Above all else, Charles exercises a profound respect for bronze
sculpting. To the very last detail, the traditional production phases are entirely respected:
The Charles philosophy: care for detail and perfection. At Charles, the highly trained and talented artists share a unique taste for authenticity and tradition. Thanks to their exceptional know-how, excellence is a standard at Charles.
Creation
All preliminary designs of our products have always been prepared in-house. On occasion, certain designers and decorators provide us with their own designs. The forms are then created by using plaster, clay or wax sculptures. Moulded and then cast, they become the â??master templatesâ??, allowing for multiple reproductions of the same design.
Casting
Bronze sculptors depend entirely on smelters for the casting process. Depending on the type of casting (sand or wax), different types of cast are used: individual item casting, pinched, core or flat casting. The Turner bleaches the object and then imprints the bronze with specific designs. – The Chaser goes over all the details with the sculptor. He trims, polishes and bleaches the flat surfaces. The chaser is a true artist, his movements are sure and he has high-quality tools that he makes himself: tracing awls, riffles, files, scratch-brush, chisels, etc.
– The Setter builds and assembles the pieces by brazing or cold setting. He folds and curves the bronze and also works on the design process.
Finishing
Finishing phase is also carried out by specialists. Pieces are first (decapped) in acid, then polished, degreased, matted, treated with acid and varnish to better protect them against the damage of time.
The attention and care given to this extremely detailed, painstaking process has been one of the major reasons for Charles lasting success and reputation.
