Vintage lamp base in exploded bronze and quartz by Claude Victor Boeltz, 1980

Sculptural lamp base in gilded bronze and quartz evoking marine rocks, attributed to Claude Victor Boeltz (b. 1937). Exploded bronze technique. Good general condition, with a discreet trace of glue on the quartz base. Sold without shade Circa: 1980 Height without shade in photo: 35 cm / 14 In. Width: 21cm / 8.3 In. Depth : 15 cm / 6 In. Weight : 3.5 KG REF : NCA17710304 Every Claude Victor Boeltz piece is glamorous yet retains a rich organic feel that adds a touch of bold sophistication to any interior. This surrealist French designer Calle popularized a technique he called "exploded bronze" - a process that makes the metal components of a given piece appear as if they had been liquefied and then crystallized following an explosion. Boeltz was born in Paris in 1937. There were several artists in his family, and Boeltz quickly developed creative interests from an early age. He had a passion for painting, architecture, ceramics and much more, but was also intrigued by scientific fields such as geology and anatomy. Boeltz studied with sculptor Henri Molin and apprenticed at the Susse Frères and Houdot foundries. He also attended evening classes at the École Boulle in Paris and the Académie d'art de Paris . He frequented museums and found much to appreciate in the works of artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Demetre Chiparus, Salvador Dalí, and Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. After moving to the Côte d'Azur, Boeltz became personally acquainted with Pablo Picasso. He worked with Picasso for a time and, in the mid-1960s, set up a foundry in the Loire Valley. By the end of the 1960s, his work was being noticed throughout Europe (his pieces were sold by companies such as Cartier). In the early 1970s, he met sculptor César Baldaccini, whose "compression" pieces inspired him to experiment with abandon, and his "exploded bronze" technique was born. Boeltz's "Hollywood Regency" style furniture - mirrors, chandeliers, frames, lamps and even ceiling lights - were made using this new process. The designer then set about decorating these "exploded" pieces with semi-precious stones - often African emeralds - or other luminous materials such as quartz and Murano glass. He then opened two foundries to produce this type of work. In the early 1980s, Boeltz transferred his facilities to the United States. He built a large foundry in Vega, and today, Las Vegas hotels house many of his works. His collectors include Salvador Dalí, Baron Rothschild and others. Reference : 307433