Valsuani Bronze Signature Variations: A Dating and Authentication Guide

The same foundry, 91 years of operation (1899-2016), yet Valsuani bronze marks show surprising variation. Understanding these differences helps collectors date bronzes, authenticate pieces, and spot fakes mimicking the wrong era’s stamp style.

Core Signature Formats

Most common (1907-1990):

“CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE”

Translation:

• CIRE = Wax (French)
• C. VALSUANI = Claude Valsuani (maintained by son Marcel)
• PERDUE = Lost (complete phrase: lost-wax casting)

Alternate word orders:

• “C. VALSUANI CIRE PERDUE”
• “CIRE PERDUE C. VALSUANI”

All three formats authentic—word order varied by mold design, space constraints, period.

Period-Specific Variations

Early Period (1899-1906): Partnership Era

“HEBRARD” or “A.A. HEBRARD”

• Valsuani’s work cast under Hébrard partnership
• Valsuani’s contribution uncredited
• Technically Valsuani casting, marked as Hébrard

“HEBRARD / VALSUANI” (dual marking)

• Partnership recognition (1903-1906)
• Two lines: HEBRARD above, VALSUANI below
• Indicates transitional period

Dating value:

Any bronze with “HEBRARD / VALSUANI” dual mark = 1903-1906 window (precise 3-year range)

Establishment Period (1907-1920s): Independence

“C. VALSUANI FONDEUR PARIS”

• FONDEUR = Founder/Caster (French)
• Emphasized professional status
• Rare, used mainly 1907-1915

“CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE”

• Became standard by 1920s
• Used continuously 1920s-1990
• Most common mark on Valsuani bronzes

“C. VALSUANI” (abbreviated)

• Short version for small bronzes
• Space-constrained molds
• Equivalent authenticity to full mark

Middle Period (1930s-1960s): Marcel Era Begins

No format change:

Marcel maintained identical stamps after 1923 succession:

• Same “CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE” format
• Intentional continuity (avoid confusing market)
• “C. VALSUANI” honored father Claude

Why “C.” not “M.”?

Marcel kept Claude’s initial out of respect:

• Foundry reputation built on Claude’s name
• Artists trusted “C. VALSUANI” brand
• Changing to “M. VALSUANI” risked market confusion

Result:

Impossible to distinguish Claude-era (1899-1923) from Marcel-era (1923-1990) by foundry mark alone—intentional design.

Late Period (1970s-1990): Final Years

Format unchanged:

Still “CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE” in 1990 (foundry’s last year)

Quality decline myths:

Some claim late-period Valsuani bronzes show quality degradation—evidence doesn’t support this:

• Technique unchanged across 91 years
• Marcel maintained father’s standards
• Giacometti bronzes (1950s-1980s) equal quality to Degas (1900s-1920s)

Additional Marks and Numbers

Edition Letters (Degas Bronzes)

Format: Single letter A-T

• Location: Separate from foundry mark (usually nearby on base)
• Meaning: Edition sequence (A = first cast, T = 20th cast)
• Dating: Combined with artist dates narrows window

Example:

“Degas” (artist signature) + “M” (edition letter) + “CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE” (foundry)

= 13th cast of Degas model, Valsuani foundry, likely 1920s-1930s

Edition Numbers (Other Artists)

Format: “No. 5” or “5/8”

• 5/8 = Cast 5 of 8 total
• No. 5 = Fifth cast (total edition size unspecified)

Artist-specific systems:

• Maillol: Numbers 1-8 typical
• Bugatti: Letters or numbers (varied by model)
• Giacometti: Numbers with slash (e.g., “3/6”)

Size Measurements

Format: “H. 41 cm” or “L. 28 cm”

• H = Height, L = Length (French: Hauteur, Longueur)
• Occasionally stamped on base
• Helps distinguish between different-sized casts of same model

Artist Proofs

“E.A.” (Épreuve d’Artiste) or “A.P.” (Artist Proof)

• Casts outside numbered edition
• Usually 1-2 per model
• For artist’s personal use
• Often marked before edition letters/numbers

Companion Marks: Artist Signatures

Degas:

Signature cast from original wax:

• “Degas” in cursive (from wax model)
• Separate from foundry mark
• Authentic Degas signature looks hand-modeled (wax origins)

Bugatti:

“R. BUGATTI” or “REMBRANDT BUGATTI”

• Block letters or cursive
• Sometimes includes date of original sculpture

Maillol:

“MAILLOL” in capitals

• Simple, bold signature style
• Integrated into sculpture base design

Pompon:

“POMPON” or “F. POMPON”

• Usually capitals
• Minimal, matching artist’s aesthetic

Geographic Indicators

“PARIS” addition:

Some marks include “PARIS”:

• “C. VALSUANI PARIS”
• “CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE PARIS”

Purpose:

International sales—distinguished Paris foundry from potential others:

• No other Valsuani foundries existed, but “PARIS” added prestige
• Occasional use 1920s-1950s
• Not standard across all bronzes

Foundry Seals (Rare)

Circular seal:

“C. VALSUANI / PARIS” in circular border

• Stamp-style mark (not cast-in)
• Applied to base before patination
• Rare—used mainly 1930s-1940s
• Often accompanies standard “CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE” mark

Fake Mark Warning Signs

Modern fonts:

Computer-generated lettering style (post-1980s appearance)

• Real Valsuani marks show period-appropriate hand-cut letter forms
• Crisp, uniform modern fonts = suspicious

Wrong word combinations:

• “VALSUANI FOUNDRY” (English—foundry used French)
• “MARCELLO VALSUANI” (name never used)
• “VALSUANI CIRE PERDU” (missing É accent = not French)

Inconsistent patina:

Mark looks newer than surrounding bronze:

• Authentic marks age with bronze (same patina color/depth)
• Fresh-looking stamps on old bronze = added later

Wrong location:

Prominent front placement:

• Valsuani placed marks discreetly (base, back of legs, underside)
• Center-front stamps = not Valsuani style

Using Signatures to Date Bronzes

Multi-mark analysis:
Example 1:

“HEBRARD / VALSUANI” + “Degas” + “C”

= 1903-1906 partnership era, 3rd Degas cast

Example 2:

“CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE” + “GIACOMETTI” + “2/6”

= Post-1950 (Giacometti-Valsuani collaboration began 1950s), 2nd of 6 casts

Example 3:

“C. VALSUANI FONDEUR PARIS” + “POMPON”

= 1907-1920s (FONDEUR format), Pompon collaboration era

Example 4:

“C. VALSUANI” (abbreviated) + “R. BUGATTI” + no edition mark

= Small Bugatti bronze, likely posthumous casting (1920s-1960s)

Cross-referencing:

Combine mark analysis with:

• Artist collaboration dates (documented)
• Edition structure (letters vs. numbers)
• Patina style (early vs. late period)
• Size (measurements help identify specific model)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I date a Valsuani bronze precisely by its marks?

Partially. “HEBRARD / VALSUANI” = 1903-1906 (precise). “CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE” = 1920s-1990 (broad range). Artist collaboration dates narrow window—Giacometti means 1950s+, early Degas means 1900s-1920s.

Why did Marcel keep “C. VALSUANI” instead of changing to “M.”?

Brand continuity. “C. VALSUANI” meant quality to artists and collectors. Changing to “M.” risked confusion, suggested discontinuity. Marcel honored father by maintaining name and standards together.

Are abbreviated “C. VALSUANI” marks less authentic than full marks?

No. Both authentic, just space constraints differ. Small bronzes couldn’t fit “CIRE C. VALSUANI PERDUE”—abbreviated version equally valid. Verify by other authentication factors (quality, patina, provenance).

What if a bronze has artist signature but no foundry mark?

Unusual but possible—some very early casts (pre-1907) or experimental pieces. Stronger provenance required. Most authentic Valsuani bronzes have foundry mark—absence raises authentication questions.

Can foundry marks be added to unmarked bronzes later?

Yes (fraud technique). Check patina consistency—mark should show same aging as surrounding bronze. Fresh stamps on old bronze indicate recent addition. X-ray analysis can reveal if mark disturbed original surface.

Do edition letters affect value more than foundry marks?

Artist and edition letter together determine value. Early letters (A-E) command premiums, foundry mark confirms authenticity. Both matter: “Degas + A + VALSUANI” worth more than “Degas + T + VALSUANI” due to edition position.

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Related:

• [How to Authenticate Valsuani Bronze Marks](#)
• [Valsuani Foundry History: 91 Years Timeline](#)
• [The Valsuani-Hébrard Partnership (1902-1908)](#)