Ref.9386
Four busts of Kings of France, former Beistegui collection

These four Neo-Renaissance style plaster busts represent Kings of France. They are copies of originals from the Renaissance and the 17th century that are in the Louvre. The first bust, copy of a bronze original, represents Louis XIII. For a long time, this sculpture was attributed to Jean Warin in the museum inventories but today specialists believe it is the work of Francesco Bordoni because it was found in the collection of his son Pierre Bordoni at his death. The three other busts are copies of works in alabaster and marble from the studio of the famous sculptor Germain Pilon (1535-1590). They are portraits of Henri II, Charles IX and Henri III. The four kings are wearing coronation clothes, each wearing the chain of the order of Saint Michael around their neck.

Ref.10940
BAYEUX MANUFACTURE - Four vases with polychrome and gold decoration with Chinese

These Bayeux porcelain vases feature rich decorations treated in polychrome and gold with Chinese characters, flowers and birds in medallions. The golden handles are made of bamboo branches.

Ref.12424
Alexandre Descatoire (1874-1949) - "Pierrot and Colombine" marble sculpture

"Pierrot and Colombine" marble sculpture signed Alexandre Descatoire. Alexandre Descatoire is a French sculptor born in Douai on August 22, 1874 and died in Marquette-lez-Lille on March 17, 1949. Professor at the School of Fine Arts and member of the Academy of Fine Arts (elected in 1939), he notably realized "Youth", allegory of times and ages, one of the gilded statues ordered for the Universal Exhibition of 1937, installed on the edges of the Parvis des Libertés et des Droits de l'Homme, in front of the Eiffel Tower. Knight of the Legion of Honor (1925), a large part of his work is dedicated to the soldiers of the First World War.

Ref.15042
Ernest CHAPLET for the HAVILAND manufacture, Vase with aquatic plant decoration, circa 1880

This vase was executed by Ernest Chaplet for the Haviland & Co. manufacture, as evidenced by the mark “H&Co” surrounded by a chaplet incised under the base. Merchant David Haviland (1814-1879) initially created an import business of earthenware and porcelain with his elder brother in 1838 in New York, Haviland Brothers. In 1842, he founded his own porcelain manufacture in Limoges. He was awarded a gold medal in 1853 in New York and received a silver medal at the World Fair in Paris in 1855. The greatest artists, including Ernest Chaplet, worked for his company, which was taken over by his descendants. Ernest Chaplet (1835-1909) first learned stoneware work in Normandy. Then, employed by Haviland & Co. in Limoges, he opened a workshop in Paris. He became independent in 1885, then sold his workshop to Auguste Delaherche in 1887. In 1888, he settled in Choisy-le-Roi and dedicated himself to researching copper reds and flamed porcelain. Around 1900, he focused his production on thick flamed porcelain. In the 1880s, Chaplet primarily produced brown stonewares decorated with colored clays and incised motifs, like our vase. The incisions reveal the underlying stoneware color, while the colored and gilded clay decorations provide great luminosity to the design. The decoration evokes aquatic flora: two large lotus flowers surrounded by reeds stand out against a green and blue background reminiscent of the water’s edge. Above, a swarm of butterflies hovers over the scene. The color variations add to the relief effects created by the artist through the addition or incision of material. The vase bears the number 83, next to the inscription BR 2/2. A very similar vase, with its simple form and technique, decorated with flowers and arrowhead leaves, is in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.