Brateau was part of a revival in the use of pewter in decorative objects, and won a gold medal at the 1889 Universal Exposition. After training as a woodcarver under Honorè Bourdoncle, from 1874 he worked as an engraver for jewellery companies such as Vever and Boucheron. In 1878 he began to work in pewter. He was made a member of Légion d'honneur in 1894, and was a member of the jury at the 1900 Universal Exposition. His work, L'Olivier (The Olive Tree) was one of two pieces chosen to represent pewterwork at the 1900 Universal Exposition.