Valsuani Bronzes in Museums

Valsuani bronzes occupy pride of place in the world’s greatest museums. Understanding where to experience these works helps appreciate the foundry’s lasting impact on sculptural art.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Met holds multiple Edgar Degas bronzes, including dancers, horses, and bathers. Many were cast at the Valsuani foundry after Degas’s death in 1917. The iconic “Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer” (with its real fabric tutu and hair ribbon) remains among the museum’s most beloved and frequently visited works.

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

The French national collection includes François Pompon’s famous “Ours Blanc” (Polar Bear), the revolutionary simplified animal sculpture that brought Pompon international recognition at age sixty-seven. Valsuani’s casting captured Pompon’s smooth surfaces and essential forms with exceptional fidelity.

Sladmore Gallery, London

This specialist gallery focuses on animal bronzes, particularly Rembrandt Bugatti’s work. Many Bugatti bronzes in their collection were cast at Valsuani, reflecting the close friendship between the sculptor and Claude Valsuani documented by Bugatti’s portrait bust of the founder.

National Gallery of Art, Washington

Holds Degas bronzes and other works from the Valsuani foundry, making Claude’s casting excellence accessible to American audiences.

The Auction Market

Valsuani bronzes appear regularly at major auction houses:

• Christie’s
• Sotheby’s
• Bonhams
• Specialist sculpture auctions

Prices range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars depending on artist, subject, condition, provenance, and edition placement.