Ref.16314
Pair of Japanese-blackened wooden frames decorated with embroidered silk

This pair of frames was made out of black wood around 1880-1890. Their wooden frame, decorated according to a Far East style, is made up of openwork friezes. In their upper part, the two frames are decorated with a calligraphic inscription, inspired by the Far East. The two frames are crowned by two winged dragons facing each other. The frames have medallions with a silk embroidered border, recovered with convex glass. Delicately embroidered, the silk is decorated with wild animals among a vegetal environment. These two frames are characteristic of the Far East trend which came to Europe at the end of the 19th century, in particular a trend towards Japanese and Chinese style. Made by a French artist, unfortunately anonymous, they are the privileged evidence of a profound taste for exoticism. The high quality of this pair of frames makes them very original and rare.

Ref.15523
Pair of Japenese Vases by Alphonse Giroux and Charles Ficquenet

Signed “ALPH. GIROUX PARIS”, this pair of square base vases features a décor of flowers on a white background. These natural flowers, are made up of soft, pastel colours, the petals of each flower create a delicate gradation of pink, yellow, blue and white. The vase is outlined in bronze, and frames two parts of the vase. It frames the base, with feet featuring dragons' heads, and it frames the top of the vase. From Japanese inspiration, these vases come from the Japanese vogue, which became known in France during the 1860s-1870s, thanks to Japan opening foreign markets under the Meiji era. This vogue style is wonderfully illustrated by the famous “Service Rousseau” the name for the Parisian seller Eugène Rousseau, named so by the painter and engraver Félix Bracquemond. The Alphonse Giroux house was a famous marquetry and cabinet making store, situated at 7, rue du Coq-Saint-Honoré, in Paris, which expanded from 1799 to the end of the Second Empire. This house was created by François-Simon-Alphonse Giroux, and his two sons Alphonse-Gustave et André took over the business on the 19th May 1838. In his shop, Alphonse Giroux sold objects of curiosity, marquetry, stationary, but also pictures, paintings, and engravings, like an 18th century Marchand-mercier. Louis XVIII and Charles X chose gifts for the young princes in Alphonse-Giroux's shop. It was his son, in particular, who gave a real boost to the family business and made it enter the top ranking of luxury shops. The house was highly influenced by Japonism during the 1860s and 1870s, as can be seen by this pair of vases. In 1885, the Giroux house definitively closed its doors.

Ref.13024
VILMOS ZSOLNAY (attributed to), Earthenware plate with a swan decoration, late 19th century

This round earthenware plate is attributed to Vilmos Zsolnay (1828-1900) because of its decoration and the trace of signature on the back. It was made in the late 19th century. The polychrome decoration of this plate depicts a swan in a countryside landscape. The white color of its feathers, and its spotted in black neck are detached from the background colored with hot shades. We can see, indeed, an ocher ground lit up with a small grass area and a gate in the background. The swan is plunging its beak in a pot where it is growing a tree of which the leaves and branches fit closely the upper part of the plate. The blue sky, tainted with green, is covered with small and stylized clouds. The Lower part of the plate also depicts two Art Nouveau scrolls friezes inhabited with plants and flowers, framing two small rabbits. The history of the Zsolnay manufactory starts in 1853, inPécs in Hungary on Miklos Zsolnay’s (1800-1880) initiative. During ten years, beautiful pieces were created, but Vilmos Zsolnay, the founder’s son, becomes manager and decides transform the familial business into an art manufactory with an international renown, by producing innovative pieces and participating to the big exhibitions that rhythm the second half of the 19th century. Indeed, he participated in the International Exhibition of Vienna in 1873, where his creativity was noticed, then the one in Paris, in 1878, where he won a Gold medal. Innovator, he creates in 1893, ceramic pieces covered with eosine – high quality varnish that gives to earthenware an iridescent metallic appearance – thanks to which he wins the Légion d’honneur, and which still stays today typical of his production.The manufactory somehow resists to the events that mark the first half of the 20th century, such as the two World War or event the 1930’s crisis. Nevertheless, it was nationalized in1948, under the communist regime that asked to destroy the most prestigious art pieces and their moldings. The manufactory has to wait until the end of the 20th century to find again its independence and original name.

Ref.5333
Restoration mantelpiece in Portor marble adorned with volutes

This Restoration period mantelpiece was carved in the early 19th century in Portor marble. The lintel is simply molded. The jambs are crowned with S-shaped scrolls adorned with a frieze of ovals. Beneath a cornice adorned with pearls, a larger double scroll curves inwards at either end. A frieze of ovals runs from top to bottom; the base of the scroll is covered with a large leaf motif. The jambs end just above the pedestal on a fluted pilaster base.

Ref.5617
Louis XV style mantel in Carrara marble

Ref.5646
Louis XV style Pompadour mantel in Enjugeraist marble