Louis-Isidore Choiselat
known as Choiselat-Gallien
Louis-Isidore Choiselat, known as Choiselat-Gallien, was one of the most important Parisian bronze casters of the first half of the 19th century. Active as of the final years of the Empire period, he established the Maison Choiselat-Gallien and was its director from 1813 to 1847. In addition to being a bronze caster, he was a goldsmith, master founder, chaser, and gilder. Choiselat-Gallien settled in Paris around 1809 and began working in the workshop of Matthieu Gallien, a maker of bronze pieces. The master soon recognized the talent of his young apprentice and arranged for him to marry his eldest daughter. After their wedding, in 1812, Gallien and Choiselat founded the Choiselat-Gallien firm, whose motto was “Au maître de tout, fabricant de bronzes, doreur et argenteur” (“Master of all techniques, maker of bronzes, gilder and silverer”). In 1815 the firm moved to 21, rue de Richelieu, and received the title of Fabricant de bronzes de Monsieur, frère du Roi (Maker of Bronzes to Monsieur, Brother of the King). Several years later, in 1823, he won a bronze medal at the Exhibition of the Products of Industry. When Charles X acceded to the throne, the firm’s activity accelerated, and it became one of the main suppliers to the king and important contemporary connoisseurs. After several decades, the Maison Choiselat-Gallien was sold to Poussielgue-Rusand, who continued working throughout the second half of the 19th century.
