French Bronze Canoeing Medal Paperweight by Marcel Renard, C. 1930

Details

Description

A Rare Find from the Garonne River Region
This exceptional Art Deco bronze paperweight is actually a vintage canoeing medal … Read more A Rare Find from the Garonne River Region
This exceptional Art Deco bronze paperweight is actually a vintage canoeing medal designed by the celebrated French sculptor and medallist Marcel Renard around 1930. Originally awarded to winners of canoe races down the storied Garonne River in Gascony, France, this piece carries both artistic significance and sporting history.
Provenance & Recent Discovery
We discovered this remarkable piece during our recent antiquing journey through southwestern France, where we traced the very waterways that inspired Renard's famous river medal series. Standing along the banks of the Garonne in Gascony, we could envision the competitive spirit and regional pride that once made these medals so coveted among local athletes.
About the Artist - Marcel Renard (1893-1974)
Marcel Renard stands among France's most distinguished Art Deco sculptors and medallists. A Rome Prize winner, he trained under his sculptor father Leopold Renard in Lyon before studying at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris with Jean-Marie Boucher and Auguste Patey.
Renard became the standard bearer of elegant neoclassical style and one of the most famous medallists of his era, creating several hundred works for the Paris Mint. His river medal series—celebrating The Seine, The Loire, The Rhône, The Garonne, The Rhine, and The Meuse—remains among his most sought-after works.
Beyond medals, Renard contributed significantly to the 1925 Salon International des Arts Décoratifs (which gave birth to the term "Art Deco"), winning a gold medal for his participation. He also created elaborate interior décors for luxury ocean liners like the Île de France and collaborated with renowned monumental sculptor Alfred Janniot on various projects.
Condition & Details

Dimensions: Approximately 3 inches
Material: Bronze with original patina
Condition: Very good vintage condition
Care: Lightly buffed to enhance detail while preserving authentic age and patina
Era: Art Deco period, circa 1930
Origin: France, Gascony region

Museum Collections
Works by Marcel Renard are held in prestigious institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum London (six works), Musée des Beaux-Arts of Lyon, the Dansmuseet Stockholm, and the Musée des Années Trente in Boulogne-Billancourt—France's principal museum dedicated to the Art Deco movement.
This paperweight represents both functional art and historical artifact, perfect for collectors of Art Deco bronzes, French decorative arts, or sporting memorabilia. A unique opportunity to own a piece by one of France's master medallists, with the added charm of its regional sporting heritage.
Perfect for: Art Deco collectors, French antique enthusiasts, desk accessories, or anyone who appreciates the intersection of fine art and athletic achievement. See less