Dating back to the Bourbon Restoration in France and the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, l’Escalier de Cristal (the Crystal Staircase) was founded by Madame Veuve Désarnaud as the first company to offer decorative objects made from crystal and gilded bronze. The firm was located in the Palais Royal in Paris, opposite the Louvre. It grew through a series of owners to become the gold standard for reproductions of 18th-century furniture — so perfect they were often mistaken for originals.
Désarnaud won numerous awards for her creations, including a gold medal at the 1819 Paris Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie Française for a dressing table featuring her signature bronze-crystal combination. A tailor named Boin bought the company around 1830; he in turn sold it to Pierre-Isidore Lahoche in 1840. Lahoche’s son-in-law, Émile Pannier, joined in a partnership in 1952 before Émile’s sons took over in 1885, establishing Pannier Frères. The company ceased commercial production in 1923.
Starting as early as the 1860s, there was a growing appetite for Japanese-style furniture, thanks in large part to the Japanese pavilion at the International Exposition of 1867. Henry Pannier reimagined some of the company’s designs to meet this new demand. The stylized furniture was a huge success and earned the company many awards, including the gold medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Others who contributed to this stylistic trend included French artist Émile Gallé, French glassmaker and ceramicist François-Eugène Rousseau, French furniture designer Louis Majorelle and French cabinetmaker Gabriel Viardot.
Henry Pannier made a constant effort to sketch each object the company sold and record it in his notebooks. Over 50 years, he recorded 2,800 furniture designs, each with its own name, date of sale and price. On some pieces, l’Escalier de Cristal signed the models, adding a layer of authenticity and distinction for today’s collectors.
Museums around the world have collected pieces from l’Escalier de Cristal, including the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of l’Escalier de Cristal decorative objects, vases, desk accessories and more.
Dinner plate for L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicat...
Ceramic
Plate L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicat...
Ceramic
Dinner plate L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicat...
Ceramic
L'Escalier de Cristal's Plate, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicat...
Ceramic
"Escalier de Cristal" Dinner plate 19th from famous service "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the most world world well-knowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand...
Ceramic
Serving Dish Choisy-le-Roi for L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Introducing the "Grands Oiseaux" footed plate, an elegant piece hailing from the iconic Escalier de Cristal, the premier tableware store of the 19th century. This exquisite plate fe...
Ceramic
Footed bowl Choisy-le-Roi for L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" footed bowl, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This elegant bowl showcases a delicate hand-painted pheasant...
Ceramic
Plate L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plate, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicate...
Ceramic
$220 / set
H 1 in W 3.5 in D 1 in
Pair of Silver Plated Metal Squirrel Animal Motif Knife Rests Austria 19th Cent
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of two silver plated figural flatware knife rests in the form of Animals, circa 1890s, European. Nice addition to every table or just for your collection. Tarnished and beautif...
Metal
$220 / set
H 0.75 in W 3.25 in D 1.25 in
Pair of Silver Plated Metal Elephant Animal Motif Knife Rests Austria 19th Cent
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of two silver plated figural flatware knife rests in the form of Animals, circa 1890s, European. Nice addition to every table or just for your collection. Tarnished and beautif...
Metal
19th Century Set of Mason's Plates
By Mason's Ironstone
Located in High Point, NC
19th century set of four English ironstone plates, signed Mason's over a crown and banner. The plates are transfer decorated in a pattern of florals ...
Ironstone
Odalisques Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
By Vito Nesta
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Odalisques' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an ottoman world made of exotic animals an...
Porcelain
Monkeys Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
By Vito Nesta
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Monkeys' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an Ottoman world made of exotic animals and c...
Porcelain
Zebras Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Zebras' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an Ottoman world made of exotic animals and ch...
Porcelain
Women Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
By Vito Nesta
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Women' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an Ottoman world made of exotic animals and cha...
Porcelain
Dervishes Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
By Vito Nesta
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Dervishes' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an ottoman world made of exotic animals and characters such as dervishes, dancers, so...
Porcelain
$2,210 / set
H 7.88 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Herend Rothschild Oiseaux Mocha & Dessert Set For 6 Persons, Hungary, 20th Cent
By Herend
Located in Vienna, AT
Herend service consisting of 21 parts: 1 lidded mocha pot, 1 milk jug, 1 lidded sugar bowl, 6 cups, 6 saucers, 6 dessert plates. Shape: Osier basket weave Decor: RO - Rothschild Ois...
Porcelain
Knights Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
By Vito Nesta
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Knights' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an Ottoman world made of exotic animals and characters such as dancers, soldiers and mu...
Porcelain
19th Century French Majolica Asparagus Choisy Le Roi
By Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century French Majolica Asparagus signed Choisy Le Roi.
Ceramic
$60,000
H 12 in W 14 in D 7 in
Magnificent French Antique Porcelain 116-Piece Dinner Set, 19th Century
Located in Montreal, Quebec
116 Pieces A magnificent French Antique porcelain 116-piece dinner set, 19th century, with burgundy and gold accents. This set is exceptionnal both in its beauty, its state of conservation, and the extraordinary range of pieces and serving pieces. Set includes: o 33 assiettes (8.75" diam) o 13 shallow soup plates (8.5") o 18 dessert plates (8.5") o 9 saucers (5.25") o 9 cups (2 " H x 3.5 x 4 ) o 12 cream jars with their lids "pots à crème...
Porcelain
Sold
H 2.17 in W 5.32 in D 9.45 in
Serving Dish Choisy-le-Roi for L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Discover the magnificent serving dish from the "Grands Oiseaux" collection, an exceptional piece from the iconic Escalier de Cristal, the premier tableware store of the 19th century....
Ceramic