Ref.11545
Set of three double doors with mirror

Set of three double doors with mirror made in the 19th century.

Ref.3612
BARDIE Armand (cabinetmaker) - An antique Napoleon III style fireplace with its overmantel

Large oak wood fireplace and pierglass, Napoleon III style, made in the late 19th century or early 20th century. Stamp by BARDIE, cabinetmaker in Bordeaux for Armand Bardié (deceased in 1926) who owned a cabinetmaking factory at the 49 cours Georges Clemenceau in Bordeaux. He is also known as archaeologist and creator of the Museum of the Porte de Calhau and the Museum of Old Bordeaux.

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Victor GEOFFROY-DECHAUME, Pair of incense burners made out of silvered bronze, adorned with dogs, circa 1840

This pair of incense burners made out of silvered bronze and adorned with dogs is a work by the goldsmith and sculptor Victor Geoffroy-Dechaume (1816-1892), as indicated by the chiselled signature on the covert’s backs. This pair of incense burners is a testimony of the taste, combining references to the arabic and medieval arts, that develops itself during the 1840 decade, in every field of the decorative arts and in particular in the work of Victor Geoffroy-Dechaume, a prolific designer for civil and religious goldsmithing models. He entered the Beaux-Arts school of Paris in 1831, where he was the student of David d’Agners and James Pradier. His taste pushed him into dedicating himself to decorative arts, and in particular to model designs for goldsmithing, until 1848, when he discovered the medieval sculpture. He gave numerous designs for other artists to use as models, for example the bronzemaker Auguste-Maximilien Delafontaine (1813-1892) or the goldsmith François-Désiré Froment-Meurice (1801-1855). Then, circa 1850, he went for the study of monumental statuary and more accurately of medieval statuary. He became one of Viollet-le-Duc’s principal collaborators and participated thus at some of the biggest restoration sites, like the Chartres cathedral, Notre-Dame of Paris or the Sainte-Chapelle. A multiple and fecund artist, he was at the same time a restorator of religious buildings, a sculptor of monumental pieces, commemorative statues, a goldsmith for the princes and a prolific moulder. In 1855, Geoffroy-Dechaume is appointed director at the Museum for Comparative sculpture (actual Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine). Our pair of incense burners is thus realised according to the main works of the first part of Geoffroy-Dechaume’s career. At this time he dedicated himself to decorative arts and to goldsmithing by producing models and works which ornamental references find their sources into arabic and medieval arts. We recognize these inspirations thanks to the polylobed and animated shapes of our incense burners. Made out of silvered bronze, they present on the top two small sculptures depicting dogs. Their bodies have been pounded with small, abstract patterns bringing them some texture and reminding of the oriental inspiration. The two scenes are different, since on the first one, we can see the dogs fighting, sitted, one biting the other’s neck, while on the other burner, a sitting female is nourishing her babies. These canine figures are set on a ring adorned with oriental patterns and pierced with holes in order for the incense to spread. On the four-feeted base, the sinuous lines and the decoration does form an hybridisation between oriental art and grotesque or even monstruous forms from gothic art, for example with the stylished paw-feet or the scale motif. Bibliography : Catalogue of the exhibition « De plâtre et d’or. Geoffroy-Dechaume sculpteur romantique de Viollet-le-Duc. » Musée d’art et d’Histoire Louis Senlecq, L’Isle-Adam, 1998.

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F. BARBEDIENNE - Small bronze inkwell with a cloisonne decor

This small bronze inkwell with cloisonne enamel decoration made circa 1860 is the work of Ferdinand Barbedienne, bronze maker and founder of the famous 19th century foundry of the same name. The decor seems to have been imagined by the designer Constant Sevin. We owe to the associations of the two men – which has lasted for more than thirty years, between 1855 and 1888 – an important collection of works of art and especially vases, showing the same colors and technical. The two men articipate to the reborn of champleve enamel in the middle of the 19th century. he first technical tries of Barbedienne were made near 1858 and four years after he presents in the Great Exhibition of London a stand mainly composed of works of art inlaid of enamels – like the model of our inkwell – which does not leave the critic indifferent. Indeed, we can on its shape and decor a Middle East inspiration but especially eclectic, typical of the artistic trend under the Second Empire.

Ref.5201
Louis XV style mantel with rich décor of shells and volutes in Griotte marble

Ref.5519
Regence style mantel in Campan marble

Ref.5591
Louis XVI style mantel carved in Carrara marble