Each Claude Victor Boeltz piece is glamorous yet retains a richly organic feel that adds a touch of bold sophistication to any interior. This French Surrealist designer popularized a technique he called “exploded bronze” — a process that has the metal components of a given piece appear as if they were liquified and then crystalized after an explosion.
Boeltz was born in Paris in 1937. There were several artists in his family, and Boeltz quickly developed creative interests at an early age. He fell in love with painting, architecture, ceramics and more, but was also intrigued by scientific fields such as geology and anatomy.
Boeltz studied under the sculptor Henri Molins and apprenticed at the Susse Frères and Houdot foundries. Additionally, he enrolled in classes in the evenings at the Boulle School in Paris and the Paris Academy of Art. He frequented museums and found much to appreciate in the work of artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Demetre Chiparus, Salvador Dalí, and Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann.
After moving to the French Riviera, Boeltz became personally acquainted with Pablo Picasso. He worked for a period with Picasso, and in the mid-1960s, he established a foundry in the Loire Valley. By the late 1960s, his work was being noticed around Europe (his works were sold by the likes of Cartier). His turning point came in the early 1970s when he met the sculptor César Baldaccini, whose “compression” pieces inspired Boeltz to experiment with abandon, and his “exploded bronze” technique was born.
Boeltz’s Hollywood Regency-style furnishings — mirrors, candlesticks, picture frames, lamps and even ceiling fixtures — were made with this new process. The designer then worked to decorate these “exploded” pieces with semi-precious stones — often African emeralds — or other luminous materials such as quartz and Murano glass. He subsequently opened two foundries to produce these kinds of works.
In the early 1980s, Boeltz moved his facilities to the United States. He built a large foundry in Nevada, and today, Las Vegas hotels now house many of his works. His collectors have also included Salvador Dalí, Baron Rothschild and others.
On 1stDibs, find Claude Victor Boeltz decorative items, lighting, serveware and more.
Pair of Exploded Bronze & 24K Gold w/ Rock Crystal Table Lamps by Claude Boeltz
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
This stunning pair of modernist table lamps by Claude Boeltz hails from France and exemplifies the innovative design sensibilities of the 20th century. Each lamp features an exploded...
Rock Crystal, Gold, Bronze
Large Gilt Bronze and Dioptase Lamp Picture Frame by Boeltz, France, 1970s
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Tall model of photo picture or drawing frame light lamp in gilt bronze and dioptase stone by the french artist Claude Victor Boeltz.
Quartz, Stone, Bronze
Claude Victor Boeltz 24-Karat Gold Plated 'Exploded' Table Lamp
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Hastings, GB
Claude Victor Boeltz sculptural 24-karat gold plated 'exploded' table lamp with eagle and rock crystal inclusions An incredible statement piece The natural rock quartz crystal wands...
Bronze
A Pair of Sculptural Brass & Quartz Lamp by Claude Victor Boeltz, France 1980's
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in HYÈRES, FR
A Pair of Sculptural Brass & Quartz Lamp by Claude Victor Boeltz, France 1980's. More than just lamps, true works of art. Made of “speckled” bronze with green quartz inlays. Unsig...
Quartz, Brass
$6,397Sale Price / set|50% Off
Pair of Horse Claude Victor Boeltz 1980 Gold Bronze Crystal French Table Lamps
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
A luxurious gold dore bronze and rock crystal horse table lamps. The gold bronze sculptures are on polished brass bases and they have complimentary ...
Rock Crystal, Gold, Brass, Bronze
$1,627Sale Price|57% Off
CLAUDE VICTOR BOELTZ 70's French 'exploded bronze' lamp
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Sherborne, GB
CLAUDE VICTOR BOELTZ Sculptural golden gilt-plated exploded bronze lamp with rock crystal inclusions. The natural rock quartz crystal wands are set into t...
Agate, Rock Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Large table lamp by Claude Victor Boeltz, Paris, France, circa 1980
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Paris, FR
Large table lamp in “exploded” bronze gilded with fine gold. Gold-plated brass frame. It supports a block of rock crystal. Original lampshade. Biography Claude Victor Boeltz, Franc...
Rock Crystal, Gold, Bronze
Bronze Éclaté Gilded Bronze Table Lamp by Claude Victor Boeltz
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Montreal, QC
Bronze Éclaté gilded bronze Table lamp by Claude Victor Boeltz inset with an amethyst quartz Signed on plate: "Made in France Boeltz Paris". Dimensions of lamp without lamp shade H:2...
Bronze
Claude Victor Boeltz 24 Karat Gold-Plated 'Exploded' Photograph Frame
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Hastings, GB
Claude Victor Boeltz sculptural 24-karat gold-plated exploded photograph frame with lamp and rock crystal inclusions. The natural rock quartz crystal wands...
Bronze
Desk lamp with photo holder in gilded bronze by C. V. Boeltz France circa 1980
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful lamp with photo holder in exploded bronze gilded in 24 K fine gold, supporting numerous rock crystals. Biography Claude Victor Boeltz, France (1937) Claude-Victor Boeltz,...
Rock Crystal, Gold Plate, Bronze
Pair of Cubic Style Rock Crystal Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A pair of rose quartz rock crystal table lamps with polish brass base and insert decorations. By Phoenix Gallery NYC. The height to the top of the rock crystal is 18.5" in.
Pair of Lamps in sculptural Brass by Willy Daro
By Willy Daro
Located in Brussels, BE
From the seventies comes this pair of table lamps in sculptural brass. The lamps received new electric al wires according to the latest safety standards and new polish. Signed by the...
Brass, Bronze
$3,450
H 15 in W 10 in D 0.65 in
Wonderful French Ormolu Purple Enamel Gilt Bronze Bow Picture Frame Miniature
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful and rare French ormolu bronze and purple enamel picture frame with a miniature on the top with bows and tassels. Frame: 10" W X 15" H Picture:7" W X 9&q...
Bronze, Enamel
$7,475
H 34.5 in Dm 10 in
Pair of Modern Hand Blown Murano Green Glass Table Lamps w/ 24 Karat Gold Flecks
Located in New York, NY
This stunning pair of table lamps were handblown in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. They feature tear d...
Gold Leaf
$2,705Sale Price|30% Off
H 35.44 in W 23.63 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Large Brass & Lacquer Pagoda Lamps Jean-Claude Mahey, France, circa 1970
By Jean Claude Mahey
Located in London, GB
A magnificent pair of large Oriental inspired brass and lacquer lamps with the original pagoda shaped lampshades. France, circa 1970. Designed by Jean-Claude Mahey for Maison Romeo. ...
Brass
MFB24 Rock Crystal Lamps by Phoenix
Located in New York, NY
Finely carved multifaceted rock crystal lamps. Created by Phoenix Gallery. To the top of rock crystal: 11.5"/H Lampshade not included.
Rock Crystal
Marie-Claude Lalique for Lalique, "Atossa" Lamp, France 1970s
By Lalique, Marie-Claude Lalique
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb "Atossa" model crystal lamp designed by Marie-Claude Lalique for the Lalique manufacture, France 1980s. Signed. In excellent condition, with its original lamp shade. Dimensi...
Crystal
$24,975
H 29 in W 22 in D 5.5 in
Modernist 24 Karat Gold & Exploded Starburst Sconce W/ Quartz by Claude Boeltz
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
This spectacular Modernist 24 Karat Gold & Exploded Bronze Starburst Sconce W/Quartz Crystal by Claude Boeltz originates from France during the latter half of the 20th Century. Featu...
Quartz, Gold, Bronze
1970s Table Lamp by J. Claude Mahey, France
By Jean Claude Mahey
Located in Brussels, BE
Massive polish piece of maple on a brass base (gold and silver). One light. Original silk Pagoda shape lampshade. Signed.
Brass
Pair of New Rock Crystal Table Lamps
By David Duncan
Located in New York, NY
A pair of new bronze-mounted rock crystal table lamps, the palm-frond collar resting on a baluster shaped rock crystal shaft, the pierced circular base on four corbel-form supports w...
Rock Crystal, Metal
SBF24 Rock Crystal Lamps by Phoenix
Located in New York, NY
Finely carved symmetrical multifaceted rock crystal lamps with polish brass light setting. Created by Phoenix Gallery. To the top of rock crystal: 12"/H Lampshade not included. Meta...
Rock Crystal
Italian Malachite and Brass Picture Frame, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Italian picture frame from the 1970s, crafted with a polished malachite veneer and accented by a gilt brass border. The vivid green malachite showcases natural banded pattern...
Malachite
Sold
H 24 in W 6 in D 10.5 in
CLAUDE VICTOR BOELTZ Pair of Gilt Bronze "Bronze Éclaté" Table Lamps. 1970's
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
Claude Victor Boeltz (French, b. 1937) Pair of Gilt Bronze "Bronze Éclaté" Table Lamps with Rock Crystal, circa 1970 Striking pair of sculptural table lamps by French artist and des...
Rock Crystal, Brass
Pair of Gilt Bronze Amethyst Lamps by Boeltz, France, 1970s
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern Artistical sculptural rare pair of gilt bronze and Amethyst stone lamps by the artist Claude Victor Boeltz. Unusual technic called by the artist Explosed bronze. S...
Amethyst, Bronze
Sold
H 15.75 in W 14.18 in D 4.73 in
Desk lamp with photo holder in gilded bronze by C. V. Boeltz France circa 1980
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful lamp with photo holder in exploded bronze gilded in 24 K fine gold, supporting numerous rock crystals. Biography Claude Victor Boeltz, France (1937) Claude-Victor Boeltz,...
Rock Crystal, Gold Plate, Bronze
Large Gilt Bronze and Quartz Lamp Frame by Boeltz, France, 1970s
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Tall model of photo picture or drawing frame light lamp in gilt bronze and quartz rock crystal stone by the french artist Claude Victor Boeltz. Sign on back Boeltz Paris Made in France.
Quartz, Bronze
Sold
H 35.44 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Gilt Bronze Lamp with Rock Crystal and Brass by Boeltz, France, 1970s
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Large gilt bronze lamp with rock crystal and brass stone by Claude Victor Boeltz, technics used is explose bronze. Demo shade not included. Measureme...
Rock Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Table lamp with photo holder. Claude Victor Boeltz. France 1970
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful lamp with photo holder in exploded bronze gilded in 24 K fine gold, supporting numerous rock crystals. Claude-Victor Boeltz, born in 1937 in Paris Complete artist (scul...
Gold Plate, Bronze
Sold
H 20.07 in W 13.78 in D 8.07 in
Table Lamp in Gilded Bronze and Rock Crystal, Claude-Victor Boeltz Paris
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Paris, FR
Claude Victor Boeltz (Born in 1937). "Coral" sculpture lamp, circa 1980, in gilded exploded bronze and gilded brass, adorned with rock crystals. Fabric shade with golden interior....
Rock Crystal, Gold Plate, Bronze
Pair of Signed Claude Victor Boeltz Bronze Lamps, 1970
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Paris, IDF
This pair of Claude Victor Boeltz table lamps has the intricacy of fine jewelry. Bronze is sculpted to look miraculously molten and gravity-dying, forming part of the base. Among the...
Rock Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 27.96 in W 10.24 in D 16.93 in
French Bronze and Amethyst Table Lamps by Claude Victor Boeltz, 1970s
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Brussels, BE
French bronze and amethyst table lamps by Claude Victor Boeltz, 1970s.
Brass
Pair of Bronze Amethyst Lamps by Boeltz, France, 1970s
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare pair of gilt bronze and Amethyst stone lamps by the artist Claude Victor Boeltz. Unusual technic called by the artist Explosed bronze. Sign ingrave Boeltz ¨Paris. Original shade...
Amethyst, Bronze
Sold
H 20.87 in W 13.78 in D 7.88 in
1970s Table Lampe Signed by Claude Victor Boeltz in Bronze and Rock Crystal
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1970s table lamp signed Claude Victor Boeltz. Bronze burst enhanced by a piece of rock crystal. One lighted arm, tailored lamp shade, gold color inside and black outside.
Rock Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Claude Victor Boeltz Table Lamps
By Claude Victor Boeltz
Located in New York, NY
A great rare pair of 1970s French gilded bronze sculptural table lamps with malachite stones by artist, Claude Victor Boelts. Rewired. Each bronze ...
Malachite, Bronze, Gold