Ref.18720
Matthew (1815-1889) and Willem (1816-1881) HORRIX (attrib. to) Important dining room set in "Black Forest" style

This dining room set set was made in the second half of the 19th century. It is very likely that it was designed by the Horrix workshops, of the brothers Matthew and Willem HORRIX. Here the rustic style, also called in the 19th « Black Forest », expressed itself at its fully. All the various elements that are composing this dining room set were made of beech wood richly carved imitating nature, with a nice brown patina. Thus, those furniture seems to be made of twigs, roots, vines, flowers and fruits. Amusing details sprang out of the carving, such as snails, grasshoppers, beetles.… and different elements are in the form of plants, for instance the buffets' handles are mushrooms' shaped. The Dining Room set is composed of: - 2 SIDEBOARDS opening with two doors and two drawers. Topped with mercury mirrors (oxidized). Dim.: H. 78''3/4 x L. 53''9/16 x D. 24''3/16 cm. - 1 SERVER, trapezoidal, with Blue Turquin marble topped by a miror and a narrow shelf. It opens with two drawers and the jambs holding two shelves. Dim.: H. 59''5/8 x L. 53''1/8 x D. 20''1/2 cm. - 5 CURTAIN RODS, branch shaped and decorated with vine leaves, topped with a basket of grapes. Dim.: H. 13'' x L. 69''5/16 – 77''3/16 x D. 3''15/16 cm. - 1 round TABLE with a central quad (slightly piqued), that can be opend (extensions missing). Dim.: H.. 30''1/2 x L. 50'' x D. 52''3/8 cm. - 6 CHAIRS, all unique, each receiving a different carved decoration, with brown leather-upholstered. Dim.: H. 36''1/4 x L. 18''7/8 x D. 21''11/16 cm.

Ref.15031
Charles Stanislas MATIFAT, Persian double-sided pendulum from the London Universal Exhibition of 1851

Made for the European and Ottoman-Persian market, our clock bears the signature of Charles Stanislas Matifat and the date 1851. Matifat is considered one of the most notable Parisian art founders of the mid-19th century. His clocks, vases, chandeliers, fountains and decorative objects were renowned for their precision, refinement and careful finishes. The model of our pendulum was presented in the French section of the Universal Exhibition in London in 1851. Matifat's stand was located in the heart of the famous Crystal Palace and aroused great admiration from the press and the Exhibition jury. Richly ornamented, evoking Persian decorative arts, this creation presents the qualities of a piece of goldwork. It offers two white enamel dials. This feature makes it possible to display both European time (that of Paris or London) and time in Turkish numerals. At this time, Matifat invented a process of vitreous enamel on bronze, which allowed him to create decorations of great finesse. Matifat is known for his decorative art pieces, appreciated by Charles Garnier, but he also cast monumental sculptures by Carpeaux and Frémiet.