Fountain of Youth Inkstand
Categories | Figural - Persons, Presentation Piece |
Material | Bronze |
Markings | See Narrative |
Manufacturer | Max Blondat |
Origin | France |
Date or Era | circa 1910 |
Measuring | 11” x 9 ½” x 16” high |
An Art Nouveau bronze figural inkstand modeled after one of Max Blondat’s most famous sculptures – the Fountain of Youth / the Frog Fountain (Fontaine Jeunesse / La Fontaine aux Grenouilles), created in 1904. The piece pictures three nude children (a boy and two girls) sitting and watching three frogs. The inkstand is inscribed “Max Blondat”. It has the Siot-Paris foundry mark. There is also a dedication (hard to read) to an official at a university, which includes the words: A.L. Rosset …sou Lecteur de Lyon.
Maximilian Blondat (1872–1925) was the son of a copper worker. He was apprenticed to an ornamentalist sculptor in 1886. He arrived in Paris and began his studies in 1889 at the Ecole Germain Pilon. In 1890, he exhibited at the Salon of French artists for the first time. In 1892, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
His works can be found in wood, stone, clay, glass, bronze. He excelled in the decorative arts with smaller models of his large sculptures. He also created small utilitarian objects: car radiator caps, knockers, clocks, pockets, ashtrays, etc. In 1906, he was a founding member of the Society of French decorative arts.
A full-size Fontaine aux Grenouilles, also known as Fontaine Jeunesse, can be seen in Dijon, France at Darcy Place (pictured). The fountain was conceived by the sculptor Max Blondat in 1904 along the banks of the Yonne River. Blondat, who was born in Crain, France, felt an irresistible attraction to flowing water and was inspired by a charming scene he witnessed: three children huddled together, peering down at an object floating in the water. This enchanting group became the subject of his fountain. The sculpture depicts three joyful children gazing at three frogs. Their smiling faces and well-modeled bodies convey a natural curiosity mixed with a touch of apprehension toward the frog-like creatures. The original marble version of the fountain was sold to an Argentinian collector in Buenos Aires. The success of Fontaine Jeunesse was immense. It gained acclaim at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1904. Later, a delegation from the city of Düsseldorf, Germany, commissioned a marble replica, which now graces a public garden in that city. Other versions exist in places like Denver, USA, and Nacozari de García, Mexico. In Odessa, Ukraine, there’s even a variant with a single frog.
Estimated Value: $400
Content disclaimer. The information posted is the owner’s best knowledge and may not have been vetted by the SOIC. We welcome comments, corrections, and additions, working to make our website information comprehensive and accurate.
Join the Society of Inkwell Collectors (SOIC) – it’s free!
Founded in 1981 as a non-profit organization,
we are documenting inkwells (and accessories).
We’re here to help and inform!