When the great bronzier Barbedienne began to branch out with original designs, the firm hired the artist Henry Cahieux (1825-1854) to design decorative objects in the ‘néo-grec’ taste, and following his death in 1853, Constant Sévin (1821-1888) continued producing new forms. However, it was Levillian who brought the greatest sensitivity to his Antique derivations. As a contemporary article described him: “M. Levillian excelle surtout dans la reproduction de scènes antiques, l’art grec, n’as pas des secrets pour lui, il y a trouvé ses plus heureuses inspirations” (A. Guerinet, ed., La Sculpture française contemporaine, œuvres remarqueable du musée du Luxembourg, des musées de province, des salons et des collections particulières, Paris, s. d., p. 11). This clearly seen in the present group of vases.