Henri Picard was a 19th-century gilder who is said to have graced Paris with his stunning furniture and decor from 1831 to 1864. His bronze pieces included exquisitely detailed candelabras, ornate clocks and sculptural table lamps.
Each item cast and gilded by the talented Picard represented the marriage of function and beauty and is a notable example of Napoleon III-style design. Developing from 1852–70, Napoleon III furniture was plush and ornate, matching the fashion for masked balls and socializing in salons.
Picard was particularly known for his artistry — his body of work includes expertly cast gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts for a range of porcelain vessels produced by Sèvres, a maker of exemplary European ceramics for hundreds of years. Picard collaborated with many designers of his day and worked for a firm called Defreville. And while Picard received numerous commissions, his most notable was designing decorative objects for Napoleon III. The pieces are still displayed at the Napoleon III Apartments in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
Picard also designed mantel clocks for the prestigious French clock-making company Raingo Frères. The manufacturer’s clocks are also on display in the Napoleon III Apartments.
On 1stDibs, find antique Henri Picard decorative objects, lighting, case pieces and more.
19th Century Ormolu-Mounted Burr Walnut Table in the Louis XVI Style by Pretot
By Henri Picard, Pretot & Cie
Located in London, GB
A Superb Library Table in the Louis XVI Manner By Maison Pretot of Paris Of exceptional quality, constructed using beautifully grained woods, including burr walnut, boxwood, and syc...
Ormolu
$14,850Sale Price|24% Off
H 31 in W 47.75 in D 28 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Center, Writing Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th century Louis XVI style ebonized gilt bronze-mounted tulipwood, kingwood and fruitwood floral marquetry single-drawer center table, desk or writing table. The ornately decorated marquetry top, centered with a floral bouquet, butterflies, scrolls and acanthus. The raised on four fluted ebonized legs surmounted with gilt-bronze spigots...
Bronze
$14,625Sale Price|25% Off
H 29 in W 41.5 in D 23.75 in
A French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany & Ormolu Mounted Desk by Grimard
By G. Grimard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XVI style mahogany and ormolu-mounted writing table by G. Grimard "Meubles d'Art" 5 rue de Charonne, Paris. After a model by Adam Weisweiler (Fr...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Center Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A versatile Louis XVI style center table from the 19th century, it has excellent proportions and color to suit a number of functions around the home from console, to occasional table...
Marble
$125,000
H 31.88 in W 75 in D 38.5 in
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Bureau Plat Desk
By Paul Sormani
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large French 19th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted mahogany and kingwood three-drawer bureau plat attributed to Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). The shaped rectangular top enclosing a gilt tooled brown leather writing surface within a molded border above a long central drawer enclosing a fine modeled mask of Hercules wearing the Nemean lion pelt centered by flat cast encadrements and rosewood veneered a quatre faces flanked by two short drawers with reticulated escutcheons of scantly clad frolicking putti and doves over gadrooned "C" scrolls, trellis patterned panels on a stylized shell within similarly framed encadrements raised on elegant cabriole legs surmounted by bearded satyr masks ending in acanthus case hairy paw feet beneath sides centering bacchic masks. Lock mechanism stamped W S M, 6068, a key (lacking skeleton key), and 148. Veuve Paul Sormani Et Fils was the widow of the highly esteemed furniture maker Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). After his death around 1877 she and her son took over the management of the company continuing the tradition of producing fine French furniture of the highest calibre. An escutcheon and several mounts were examined on the reverse, and each was found to have the bronze master model initials "SJ:. Blue chalk inscription on underside Glle 117, Paris, circa 1880. Paul Sormani (1817-1877): Born in Venice, Paul Sormani set up in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. He specialized in creating furniture and works of art and was known for his high quality reproductions of Louis XV and XVI furniture...
Bronze, Ormolu
$24,500Sale Price|30% Off
H 29 in Dm 44.25 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Center Table
By Maison Millet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine french 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted tulipwood, kingwood and fruitwood marquetry round side or center table, in the manner of Théodore Millet. The circ...
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Bouillotte Table
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI style Bouillotte table crafted with rich mahogany marquetry, marbled top, bronze gallery, two pull out leaves, and two drawers, each accented with bronz...
Marble, Bronze
$64,500
H 30.5 in W 49 in D 30 in
Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Center Table, Attr Millet
By Maison Millet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Figural Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Center or Writing Table with a Brêche Vilolette Marble Top, attributed to Maison Millet, after models b...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Center Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stunning Louis XVI style center table from 19th century France. The inset white marble top with striking green veining is in good antiq...
Marble
$2,123
H 30.32 in W 33.86 in D 22.05 in
French Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Walnut and Beveled Glass Center Table
Located in Barntrup, DE
French late 19th century Louis XVI style center table. A beautiful Louis XVI-style center table made of walnut wood with delicate floral and leaf carvings. The beveled glass top and ...
Fabric, Glass, Walnut
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and impressive French mid-19th century Louis XVI style giltwood center table. The rectangular shaped table is raise...
Marble
$24,500
H 29.25 in W 39.25 in D 25 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany, Kingwood And Ormolu Center Table
By François Linke
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany, Kingwood and Ormolu center table/desk, in the manner of Linke. This wonderful single drawer rectangular center...
Ormolu
$16,800
H 29.5 in W 45.75 in D 26 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany and Ormolu Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany and ormolu rectangular center table with a Rosé Boréal marble top. The table is raised by four circular tapered fluted l...
Ormolu