Henri Picard Gueridon

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...