Ref.10883
Beautiful antique cast iron fireback with the Jannon family coat of arms, 18th century

This beautiful antique Louis XV style fireback was made in the 18th century. It presents the coat of arms of the Jannon family: Gules with three cinquefoils of silver. Two griffons are on both sides, the whole is surmounted by a Marquis crown. It may be a fireback for Jean Jannon, who died in 1726, an honorary councilor at the Burgundy Parliament.

Ref.11263
Japanese style secretary with mother-of-pearl butterfly decoration

Secretary, richly decorated in the 19th century, in the style of Gabriel Viardot. It has three doors including two windows and a flap adorned with butterflies and flowers in mother-of-pearl inlays. Rest on feet finished in claws. This secretary is characteristic of the production of the late 19th century inspired by the Japanese and Chinese works of art. The inlaid mother-of-pearl panels come from Tonkin, the northern part of present-day Vietnam, where whole panels were made for Europe. In France, cabinetmakers reused them, cutting them as they pleased in order to compose a decor adapted to their furniture.

Ref.15651
Escalier de CRISTAL (in the spirit of), Pair of pink porcelain potpourris, 19th century

This pair of 19th-century potpourris in the Louis XVI style consists of a porcelain bowl and lid in a magnificent matt pink colour. The “putoisage” technique used, which gives the piece its slightly speckled appearance, almost creates a relief effect that lends character to the porcelain. The resulting light effect compliments the brilliance of the original gilded bronze that adorns the pots. The gilded bronze elements on these pieces include the pinecone-shaped handle. This is a recurring motif in decorative art, symbolising fertility and regeneration. The openwork bronze necks of the containers are decorated with olive branches, an elegant and clever way of allowing the scents contained in the potpourri to escape. Finally, the pots rest on three legs finished by lion paws set on a base engraved with stylised acanthus leaves. Under the three legs, a flame reminds us of fire pots, these architectural ornaments typical of the classical and baroque periods. This set was produced in the spirit of the Escalier de Cristal by a manufacturer whose production quality is very similar to that of this great Parisian house. Heiress of the great merchant-mercers of the eighteenth century, Escalier de Cristal was a famous company during the Restoration created in 1808 and closed in 1923. Merchant-editor, the Escalier de Cristal produced small furniture and luxury objects. For the realization of its models, Escalier de Cristal most often called upon Parisian artists specializing in a specific technical field. Here is a rare photo of Escalier de Cristal pieces amongst which we can find a potpourri. Archive photo « Cl. 105 », An Escalier de Cristal potpourri, © Galerie Marc Maison.