Henri Picard

Large and rare Louis XVI style cage clock in chiseled and gilded bronze, rectangular in shape, highlighted with friezes of water leaves and pearls, with glass panels decorated with t...

With its delightful painted representations of the four seasons and bacchanalian scenes, this ‘bleu celeste’ garniture demonstrates the technical excellence of Sevres factory porcelain. On top of this, the porcelain vases are beautifully decorated with gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts, expertly cast by Henri Picard, the manufacturer and gilder to Emperor Napoleon III. This garniture is comprised of a central jardinière and a pair of flanking vases. The jardinière features a wide porcelain body, which is topped by a gilt bronze guilloche-patterned neck. This is fitted with two geometric handles, which terminate in cherubs masks. The jardinière body is finely decorated with a continuous painting of putti playing together in a woodland setting. One putti holds the pinecone-tipped staff carried by followers of Bacchus (or Dionysus), the god of wine and ecstasy. Several putti ride on a goat, led on a harness by other putti. This painting is edged with jewelled and parcel gilt decoration, set against a bright ‘bleu celeste’ ground. The jardinière stands on a shaped gilt bronze stem, its top encircled by a band of stiff leaves, its middle by a laurel wreath, and its foot by beading. The jardinière is placed on a square gilt bronze plinth, which is decorated with grape-form finials, hung draperies and foliate motifs, and is set on four beaded toupie feet. The pair of vases are similar to the jardinière in their design. They feature ovoid ‘bleu celeste’ porcelain bodies, which are decorated with continuous paintings of the four seasons, within gilt and jewelled frames. Winter is depicted in a scene showing putti huddled together on a sleigh in a snowy landscape, and autumn by cherubs reaping crops with a sickle. Spring is shown by cherubs wearing flower wreaths and dancing while holding garlands, and summer by putti picking grapes and drinking wine. The vases’ bodies are topped by pointed gilt and jewelled ‘bleu celeste’ porcelain lids, crowned by gilt bronze grape finials. Like the jardinière, the vases are fitted with gilt bronze cherub...

A very fine pair of French 19th century neoclassical Greco-Roman style patinanted bronze and ormolu mounted figural candelabra by Henri Picard (French, Active from 1831-1864). The large and impressive pair of ten-light candelabra, each with a patinated figure of a standing bearded semi-nude male holding an ornate ormolu ten-light candelabrum, their bare feet resting on allegorical wreaths, helmet and sword stash, all above square black-slate plinth surmounted with ormolu trims and scrolled legs, the front surmounted with patinated bronze plaques depicting Greco-Roman scenes of Senators and maidens. Stamped "H. Picard" on the inner ring, the back of the male figures each stamped with the numerals "3776". Circa: Paris, 1850-1860. The well regarded fondeur and doreur Henri Picard was recorded at 6 rue Jarente in 1831, and moved to 10 rue de la Perle in 1839. The firm, which was active from 1831-1864, is known for having supplied very fine decorative objects to Emperor Napoleon III's apartments at the Louvre, which are still part of the collection, and was reputed for its fine quality decorative production of gilt and patinated bronzes, pièce de table and garnitures de cheminée...

A truly unique pair of Napoleon III Second Empire Period (1852-1870) Neo-Etruscan style gilt bronze table candelabras by the prestigious 19th century fondeur and doreur Henri Picard ...

Signed H. Picard Fine pair of oval jardinieres in chiselled and gilded bronze, with inner liners. They are adorned in relief and enhanced by a subtle interplay of burnished and matt...

A remarkable pair of display cabinets By Henri Picard of Paris Constructed in mahogany, with extensive and superlative ormolu decoration. The cabinets of rectangular form, rising from turned and tapering toupie feet supporting an inverted breakfront lower tier, the shaped aprons housing three lockable drawers and incorporating gilt bronze mounts in the manner of Riesener. The square tapering legs decorated in conforming ormolu of the highest quality, and flanking a central cartouche depicting a lyre. The central vitrine lockable doors enclosing shelved mirrored...

An elegant and large scale French 19th century Napoleon III Period Ormolu, patinated Bronze, and tole centerpiece, signed by Henri Picard. This beautiful jardiniere centerpiece is ra...

A similar model was exhibited at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition. Rare pair of round table made of patinated and gilded bronze with a top veneered with malachite and circled with bronze mounts adorned with ovum and beads. They stands on three patinated bronze feet with lion heads and paws, linked with gilded bronze X braces. Related Works: The feet of these gueridons adopt a sleek design and are adorned with claws and lion heads. Inspired by a well-known model in the Barbedienne Company production and it has been reused many times by his workshop. These gueridons shows how the Barbedienne Company offered a range of furniture from the designs of its decorator Louis-Constant Sévin. He designed this model of gueridon few time after he joined the Barbedienne Company in 1855 and this model can be seen on different interior decorations of the Second Empire. A tripod gueridon with feet like these ones can be seen on a picture showing the cold room of the Pompeiian house built for Prince Napoleon. (see picture attached, photograph by Laplanche J et Cie, between 1860-1866, Musée Carnavalet, Paris, PH15305). Most of the Ancient style furniture was made by Charles Rossigneux (1818-1908) but this gueridon shows that the Barbedienne Company took also part to this work. Biography: Henri Picard was established in Paris, 6 rue Jarente from 1831 to 1839 and then 10 rue de la Perle from 1840 to 1864. He worked on the Emperor Napoleon III’s apartments gilding at the Louvre Palace. His production was in a rich and fine style, like a Japanese style inkwell, or his Pompeian style dining table centerpieces...