{"title":"Achilles Collas","description":"\u003cp\u003eAchille Collas (1795–1859) was a French engineer, inventor, writer and engraver who developed a way of mechanically creating engravings after medallions and other reliefs. He is best known for his invention of the “réduction méchanique”, a machine to copy sculptures at a smaller scale. This invention popularised small sculptures and has been credited with being almost entirely responsible for “the transformation of the bronze industry”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1836, Collas produced a pantograph-like machine to reproduce antiques\/art-works\/european-sculpture\/sculptures in different scales and materials. Two years later, he started a company together with creator\/barbedienne-bronze-foundry\/Ferdinand Barbedienne, the “Société Collas et Barbedienne”, for the production and marketing of reduced copies of sculptures in different materials ranging from plaster and wood to bronze and ivory. The first product of the company was a reproduction of the Venus de Milo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1851, Barbedienne sent some pieces to The Great Exhibition, where the company received a special medal. This marked the start of the company’s success, and in 1855 Collas was awarded the Grand Médaille d'Honneur of the Exposition Universelle in Paris. His invention of the “réduction méchanique” was a major breakthrough in the bronze industry, and its impact is still felt today.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pair-of-bronze-and-gilt-classical-vases-by-barbedienne","title":"Pair of Bronze and Gilt Classical Vases By Barbedienne","description":"\u003cp\u003eA fine pair of 19th-century Bronze and Gilt Classical Vases By Ferdinand Barbedienne 1810-1892. Each is unique with male nude figures in classical Greek poses playing music and admiring sculptures, all within borders of gilt leaves and trailing vines. Signed.\u003cbr\u003eFrance, circa 1870\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeight: 34.5 cms (13.6 ins)\u003cbr\u003eDiameter: 14 cms (5.5 ins)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nwtiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51226232914257,"sku":"12804","price":9500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0935\/5873\/5185\/files\/background-editor_output_80ee85dc-3e6a-4253-87a6-0bad63217b70.png?v=1749157813"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0935\/5873\/5185\/collections\/1000046669.png?v=1749881829","url":"https:\/\/nwtiques.com\/collections\/achilles-collas.oembed","provider":"Nicholas Wells Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}