As artisans and craftsmen, taking pride in our work is absolutely essential.

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2 As artisans and craftsmen, taking pride in our work is absolutely essential. Jean Wiart 2 perspectives on design

3 elements of structure With decades of experience, the atelier of Les Métalliers Champenois known as LMC Corporation continues in America the ancient European tradition of fine ornamental metalwork. After the achievements the firm s artisans made with landmark historic restoration projects like the Palace of Versailles and the Place Stanislas in Nancy, France, Les Métalliers Champenois was chosen to recreate the torch and flame of New York s famous Statue of Liberty, initially completed in The sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi s original vision of a gilt torch had never been realized until 1984 when the firm stepped in. Today those same artisans, trained according to the rigorous metalworking guild standards of France, work for architects and interior designers commissioned by distinguished homeowners as they craft fine metalwork to match the caliber of century-old antiques. For Les Métalliers Champenois, dedicated artistry through timeworn methods is paramount. Les Métalliers Champenois Corporation metalwork 3

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5 The same level of craftsmanship, dedication, and loyalty to the trade instilled in us across generations ever since our 19th century predecessors describes our work today. Jean Wiart Above: The stairway s finely chased bronze work incorporates typical details of classical American style, including eagles, pinecones, and swags. All parts were mechanically and precisely attached together, without any welding or brazing works. Photograph by Peter Krupenye Facing Page: The sweeping curved stair railing, made of bronze, was inspired by the original at Cheekwood, an 18th-century-style house built in Nashville in the 1930s. Photograph by Peter Krupenye Previous Pages: The Brazilian mahogany wood cap rail runs 31 feet along the upper landing segment of the staircase. The center of each metal swag features a laurel leaf design embellished with seed elements. A dark bronze patina finish subtly highlights the ornaments details. In accordance with the architect s vision, the slope of the starting and upper landing transitions softly, curving gently. The massive size of the wooden cap provides support and strength for the metal rail. Photograph by Peter Krupenye metalwork 5

6 The door, the gate, the stairwell retain more than just an aesthetic purpose, for they must also be useful companions and friends to the homeowners. Jean Wiart Above: The bottom of the bronze rail sits atop a bronze moulding, creating a refined progression from the top segment of the stone stringer to the lower bar of the rail. The bronze ornaments have been carved in pear wood first, then cast and chased. The frieze features high-quality cast and hand-chased bronze work, as well as a Brazilian mahogany wood cap. Photographs by Peter Krupenye Facing Page: From the ground floor up through the fifth floor, the 100-foot-long bronze rail flows seamlessly from landings to stair flights. Inspired by a stair rail design by 18th-century French architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel, the rail is the central focal point of a mansion near Fifth Avenue. Photograph by Peter Krupenye 6 perspectives on design

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9 Like a hat on the head of a refined woman, a marquee canopy over the entrance of a grand home must be a delicate, elegant decoration that enhances and elevates. Jean Wiart Right: The iron and glass canopy, which projects nine feet out, is reinforced with an ornate frieze, highlighted with gold leaf. The quarter inch-thick, semi-translucent wired glass adds a touch of Belle Époque while meeting today s building code security standards. The canopy has an inverse slope and rainwater flows into an urn-like water collector adorned with hand-repoussé gilded acanthus leaves. Photographs courtesy of Les Métalliers Champenois Corporation Facing Page: In Paris, an Atlanta homeowner fell in love with a graceful feature of sophisticated buildings: the canopy. The quarter-round canopy and entrance door with gilt highlights are made in the 19th-century Parisian style, with custom-made hanging lanterns. Photograph courtesy of Les Métalliers Champenois Corporation metalwork 9

10 Can a home be called great without a grand staircase? Jean Wiart Above: A lay light of wrought iron figures prominently in the ceiling of a Brooklyn mansion s grand staircase. The lay light, three feet wide and 14 feet long, is decorated with repoussé ornaments with antique gold highlights. Photographs by Peter Krupenye Facing Page: Semi-opaque security glass lites lend a soft glow and highlight the contours of the bronze entrance door s ornamentation. The grand staircase, in the Louis Philippe style, serves as the chief passage from the reception hall to the owner s private quarters. Fitting the wrought iron rail perfectly is a mahogany cap rail; a chased iron gold-leafed, ribbon-like embellishment wraps around the newel post elegantly. Photograph by Peter Krupenye 10 perspectives on design

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13 Sheer admiration for the Old Masters motivates us and inspires us to bring a sense of balance, musicality, and elegance to our work. Jean Wiart Right: The two-tone patina finish dark oxidized black iron and medium statuary bronze provides a distinguished touch of lightness and elegance to the forged iron and bronze front entrance door of a Palm Beach residence. The grillwork on the fixed side lights and the transom are operable for ease of cleaning of the privacy glass the glass lites are opaque when the power is off and transparent when on. Photograph by Peter Krupenye Facing Page: A generously sized nine-foot-high entrance door to a Park Avenue residence measures more than three feet in width. The mild steel door incorporates two operable grilles that allow for glass cleaning and a security lock is stylishly concealed in the jamb. The scalloped design is entirely mechanically secured and not welded to preserve its sharpness the repoussé palm leaf ornaments are riveted onto the curved steel piece, secured in place by the acorn motif underneath. Photographs by Peter Krupenye metalwork 13

14 Even easily overlooked details require the utmost attention: every piece must have the maximum amount of harmony and sensitivity to ensure high quality from workshop to installation. Jean Wiart Above: In order to create a gate reminiscent of the entrance to a century-old estate, solid forged bronze bars that make up a 16-foot-wide bronze gate are finished with a chemical verdigris. The two motorized gate leaves weigh more than 3,200 pounds and lead to a breezeway punctuated by a set of five bronze gates. The bronze floral ornaments are reminiscent of the luxuriant vegetation of Florida. Photograph by Peter Krupenye Facing Page: Stone columns 16 feet in height flank a set of monumental bronze gates, hand-wrought and designed in the style of 18th-century Italian grillwork. The service gate and two pedestrian gates were fabricated in bronze for the estate in Montecito, California. Photograph by Todd Young 14 perspectives on design

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