Maison Lucien Gau, bronze maker in the 11th arrondissement since 1860

Maison Lucien Gau, bronze makers of the faubourg Saint-Antoine, was founded in Paris in 1860 by Charles Gau, a former goldsmith. He made jewel boxes, trays, statuettes, spectacle holders and all manner of accessories in bronze.

Under Henri Gau, the house turned to lighting, chandeliers, lamps and wall lights given new life by electricity, as well as Art Nouveau furniture and replicas of 18th-century pieces. After the crash of 1929, Lucien and his brother Augustin worked as Gau Frères until they parted in 1934; Lucien then made Art Deco and modern pieces.

After Lucien’s early death, the house became Établissements Lucien Gau. The following generations bought the houses of Petitot, Hettier and Vincent et Raynaud and opened new markets. Julien Gau, the sixth generation, has led it since 2014.

Near the faubourg Saint-Antoine, in the 11th arrondissement, the workshops of the passage du Cheval-Blanc design, cast, turn, chase, gild and assemble, working only in noble metals. The catalogue holds nearly 3,000 designs; the house also reproduces any period model and restores chandeliers, small furniture and bronze objects for museums, hotels and historic monuments, among them the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.