Ref.3495
Beautiful Victorian style antique fireplace in Carrara Statuary marble and inlays of Vert d'Estours marble with vases and bowl

This beautiful antique Victorian style fireplace is an English model made in the late 19th century. It is made of Carrara Statuary marble and Vert d'Estours marble, whose inlays contrast with the whiteness of the Statuary marble and highlight the straight lines. This fireplace is adorned with fine sculptures. The fluted jambs are thus decorated with Greek-inspired vases at the top and the frieze is adorned with rosettes and a large bowl at its center surrounded by branches with flowers.

Ref.13299
Pair of vases in malachite and gilt bronze, Russia, late 19th century

This beautiful pair of vases was made of gilt bronze and malachite. It's very likely a Russian work from the end of the 19th century. The belly of our vases was made of malachite and welcomes a Rococo style decoration of gilt bronze. The whole decoration was made of gilt bronze, like the handles which are also reminding of the Louis XV style as they are shaped of thin acanthus leaves scrolls, or even the neck where are attached the handles and the foot. Finally, from the neck a beautiful gilt bronze tulips bouquet springs while the vase rests on a small malachite square base. The malachite, is an intense green stone because of its high copper composition, which makes it very appreciated in the 19th century. This stone mainly comes from Russia where important deposit are known since the 17th century, we can name the one called Nijni Taguil, discovered in 1835 and exploited by the Count Demidoff (1812 - 1870). Used in bloc to create small objects, the malachite can't be used for big pieces as the ones we can make in marble. That's why the technic called “Rusian mosaïc” was invented during the second half of the 19th century : malachite strips are inlaid to create the illusion of a block , allowing to put this extraordinary color on walls, columns or other interior elements like in the Malachite Room in the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. It's the Royal stone manufactory of Peterhof and Ekaterinbourg that develop this art which quickly seduces the aristocracy. This technic is discovered in France when Alexander I of Russia (1777 - 1825) gifted Napoléon Ier (1769 – 1821) a set of malachite element in 1808. Candelabras, big vases and basins are placed in the Emperor Room in Trianon, which became the “Malachite Room”. The new beauty of this sophisticated art creates an important enthusiasm which lasts during the entire 19th century.

Ref.13459
Series of four earthenware bas-reliefs, "Putti fishing", late 19th century

This series of four bas-releifs was made of earthenware in the late 19th century, the artist or the factory are not identified even though one of them is bearing the monograme "EB". Each panel depicts a polychromatic decoration in frieze inhabited by putti sailing on the sea and hunting with harpoons and nets some marine monsters and fishes. On one of the bas-relief, five putti are on an boats, two of themn are huntinf with a trident a big dimensions fish, while the others are occupieds net fishing. On the two others, of one the boat is attacked by marine mosnters looking like dragons and sea horses. Armed with harpoons and arrows, the putti are fighting, keeping the boat on sea and riding the aquatic creatures. Finally, on the last frieze, the putti seem to be coming back from fishing, bringing back the boats on the ground with the net filled with fishes. The richness of the colors used and the shape of the friezes translate a charming decora with an expressive narrative work.