Ref.1887
Antique Neo-Renaissance style walnut mantelpiece With Diane de Poitiers coat of arms after the monumental fireplace coming from the Chateau of Villeroy and exhibited at the Louvre Museum

This exquisite hooded fireplace was made during the 19th century out of walnut wood, and follows the Neo-Renaissance style. At the centre of the entablature, a Red Griotte marble cabochon is placed. The rest of the entablature is elaborately carved with sphinxes. The Diane de Poitiers coat of arms, 3 intertwined C, are on the end of the frieze. The Sphinxes decorating the frieze of this fireplace are made after the monumental fireplace from the Château de Villeroy in Mennecy and now exhibited in the Louvre Museum. This fireplace was made by Mathieu Jacquet circa 1600 for the chateau built by Nicolas de Neufville, lord of Villeroy (1542-1617). It was bought by Alexandre Lenoir for the Musée des Monuments français in 1801/1802.

Ref.14036
A briefcase with precious porcelain decoration by Julien-Nicolas RIVART

An extremely rare piece, our leather briefcase features a very fine porcelain marquetry decoration. This is a very original work, Rivart porcelain is usually inlaid on pieces of wooden furniture. Its decorations form real flower paintings. The object transforms into jewelry. Covered in leather, this document holder has two compartments lined with moiré fabrics. Porcelain brings delicacy and shine to matte leather. Rivart, a great name in decorative arts during the Second Empire, had renewed the art of marquetry by replacing the traditional wooden veneer with fine porcelain marquetry. In the 1850s, Rivart was praised in the press for his patent and his technical mastery. His patent provided for the inlay of porcelain on different supports, such as wood, cardboard, leather or velvet and even marble, but very few of his creations have come down to us apart from furniture.