Ref.11939
Prosper LECOURTIER (after) - "Roaring lions", pair of stone garden statues

This important pair of garden statues represents two roaring lions carved out of stone, made after the famous model by the animal sculptor Prosper Lecourtier. * Shown in movement, the open den which let us imagine a powerful roar, these lions are represented with realism. They rest on bases with winding. Prosper Lecourtier is an animal sculptor born in 1851 in the Meuse region. He was Emmanuel Frémiet's student at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and he inherits from his master a strong taste for wildlife. The model of the Roaring Lions is the best known model by Prosper Lecourtier, published in bronze many times. There is also a bronze version of this lion at the Museum of Art and Archeology in Guéret. It is much rarer to see these roaring lions carved out of stone, as it is for our garden statues. The only other known example is a marble version that decorates Parque Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil. The great novelty brought by our lions is the design in pairs, symmetrically, which seems to be quite original.

Ref.12447
Pair of Baccarat crystal vases with Japanese decoration

Pair of vases with Japanese decoration in Baccarat crystal and gilt bronze frame.

Ref.13188
Lot of 4.7 m² of antique hexagonal terracotta tiles, 19th century

Antique 19th century period floor composed of hexagonal terracotta tiles. About 215 tiles of which the six sides are 3" 5/8 for 7" 1/4 length and between 5/8 and 1 thick. The whole surface area is about 4.7 m².

Ref.13624
Gabriel VIARDOT (attributed to), Clock shaped as a pagoda with a Foo dog bronze, circa 1870-1880

This clock shaped as a pagoda is very likely a work from the hand of the Parisian furniture maker Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906), specialized in the creation of Chinese and Japanese inspired furntiure. It's during the 1867 World Fair where he discovered the Japanese Art, the Gabriel Viardot decided to devote himself to “Chinese-Japanese style furniture”. It’s with this production that he was awarded a silver medal at the World's Fair of 1878. His furniture was produced thanks to lacquered and carved panels sent directly from China or Japan and decorated with mother of pearl inlays from Tonkin. He enlivened his furniture with bronze decorations, of which he made all the designs by hand. In 1885, he participated in the World Exhibition of Antwerp where he obtained a gold medal. At this time, the shop employed 90 – 100 workers, sculptors or cabinetmakers, a lot of who were educated directly by Gabriel Viardot. Following this exhibition, Gabriel Viardot was promoted to the rank of Knight in the Legion of Honor (December 29 1885). In 1889, he was at the World Exhibition that took place in Paris and awarded a gold medal. He obtained the same award at the World's Fair of 1900. He creates here a beautiful clock taking the shape of an Japanese architecture with a pagoda roof, on the mount of which a slendid bronze dragon is wound. On the right a very big Foo dog also in bronze seems to be going down the roof and is holding itself on a pedestal adorned with Japanese scrolls next to the clock. The exceptional quality of the bronzes and the specific shape of the big Foo dog that we also find on furniture bearing the signature of the artist (see Ref 11321 for instance), prove the extreme attention given for the realization of this clock by Gabriel Viardot.

Ref.14544
Modern fireback with the coat of arms of France

Fireback dated 1662. It is decorated with a coat of arms with three lilies, symbols of France, surmounted by a royal crown.

Ref.14677
Louis XVI style trumeau decorated with a garland of flowers