Ref.10926
Antique large urn in French granite, mid-19th century

This large antique urn in French granite was made in the mid 19th century. The urn is decorated with a molded decoration and is on a pedestal whose lower part presents delicately carved patterns. One of the sides of the pedestal is adorned on its central part with carved volutes and geometric shapes.

Ref.14332
Fireback from the 18th century with a triple figuration of the coat of arms of France

Ref.16079
Gustave Isaac Lévy, Jollet & Cie for Escalier de Cristal, Minogame turtle clock

This clock is a fine example of how the craze for Japonisme, which began in the 1860s, influenced every artistic field, from painting to the decorative arts. This exclusive creation for l'Escalier de Cristal bears witness to the fascination with the Far East during the late 19th century. This rare turtle-shaped clock was created by Gustave Isaac Lévy and Jollet & Cie. The stylized shell, adorned with cloisonné enamels, serves as the dial where a snail moves to indicate the hours, driven by the clock's internal mechanism. The decoration features cartouches with various geometric patterns and numerals in Japanese-style characters. For this gilt bronze piece, the legend of the Minogame turtle, drawn from Japanese folklore, was adapted to suit French tastes. According to tradition, after resting at the bottom of a lake for 10,000 years, the turtle's shell becomes covered in algae that form a kind of tail, giving it the name "cape-turtle." The clock captures the moment the creature emerges from its slumber to seize a crab suspended from a branch above the water. The crab, made of gilt bronze, is rendered with striking naturalism.