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.
$6,396Sale Price|20% Off
Signed Escalier De Cristal of Paris Metamorphic French Louis XVI Desk Table
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an incredible signed L Escalier De Cristal of Paris metamorphic desk or ladies vanity. The desk is beautifully inlaid and features inlaid brass inside the fluted legs and a g...
Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Side Table, Maison L'Escalier de Cristal Paris
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined side table made of burr walnut veneer on an oak base, with elegant tapered legs, at the ending gilt bronze clawfeet. The table has extra server drawers on both sides. Around the top a copper rim. The table is stamped on the bottom: Maison L'Escalier de Cristal Paris...
Bronze
19th Century Escalier de Cristal French Louis XV Side Table
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Forney, TX
A gorgeous antique Louis XV style side table by Escalier de Cristal with beautiful patina. Hand crafted in Paris France during the last quarter of the 19th century, it features a verde marble-top, above a diamond motif parquet case with a single drawer, opposing side having a pull-out serving tray slide with green inset gilt-tooled leather panel, long slender cabriole legs with beautiful exotic wood inlay floral medallions, medial shelf with checkerboard motif parquetry and cross-banded border, ending with decorative gilt-bronze accented feet. Signed Escalier De Cristal Paris Dimensions: (approx) 29" H, 14.5" W, 14.5 D Great antique condition. Original, unrestored, antique condition. Having patina. Missing one gilt foot accent. Some loss. Wear/tear consistent with age and use. Provenance: From the estate of Lonnie Alfred "Bo" Pilgrim (May 8, 1928 – July 21, 2017) co-founder of Pilgrim's Pride, which at one time was one of the largest chicken producers in the United States. Pilgrim co-founded Pilgrim's Pride when he opened a feed store...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century, French Mahogany Coffee Table by Escalier de Cristal
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in IT
19th century, French mahogany coffee table by Escalier de Cristal Paris, second half of the 19th century Dimensions: cm L 46 x P 33 x H 68 The...
Bronze
French Aubergine and Gilt Japanned Occasional Table
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in New York, NY
With four drawers above a medial shelf, curved legs, decorated on all sides with exotic birds, old French printed paper label ‘[Maison de L'Escalier de Cristal]/Pannier-Lahoche &...
Wood
French Louis XVI Mahogany and Marble Table
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style (Mid-19th Century) mahogany gueridon table with 4 reeded legs, mahogany apron, and a bronze gallery around a Spanish brociatella marble top. (Signed Escalier d...
Antique Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Table by L'Escalier de Cristal
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in London, GB
This superb piece is an antique ormolu mounted Louis XV style table, masterfully crafted with kingwood, tulipwood, and parquetry, by the famed Parisian firm L'Escalier de Cristal. Th...
Marble
Maison Jansen Occasional Table
By Maison Jansen
Located in East Hampton, NY
Elegant marble-top table with a steel and brass base in the French Regency style.
Marble, Brass, Steel
$2,495
H 29.5 in W 24.5 in D 17.5 in
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Marquetry Vanity Table or Side Table
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid nineteenth century French Napoleon III period marquetry side table is constructed of walnut. Called a "travailleuse" in French, it was originally used as a lady's work table...
Bronze
$9,500
H 32 in W 35.5 in D 25 in
French Louis XVI Style Belle Époque Oval Giltwood Carved Marble-Top Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French Louis XVI Style 'Belle Époque' oval giltwood carved center table with marble top. The ornately decorated apron topped with a veined white marble top and raised on four flute...
Marble
French Carved Fruitwood Louis XV Style Side Table
Located in Norwood, NJ
Provincial French carved fruitwood Louis XV style side table. Country French styling with raised tray form top panels and carved elements on apron and cabr...
Wood, Fruitwood
French Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Austin, TX
French Louis XVI style desk of mahogany, finished with a Museum quality French polish. The contours of the writing table are covered with gilt brass trims while Pearl trims adorn the...
Leather, Mahogany
$7,895
H 30.5 in W 51.13 in D 27.5 in
Louis XVI Style Writing Table or Desk of Walnut with Leather Top from France
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome French writing table or desk in the Louis XVI style - featuring an embossed leather top set within a moulded, shaped walnut surround, over a frieze with paneled sides and ...
Metal, Brass, Ormolu
$4,850
H 30.5 in Dm 20.5 in
Fine French Louis XVI Style Gilt Wood Carved Guéridon Side Table with Marble Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French Louis XVI Style Gilt Wood Carved Guéridon Side Table with Marble Top. The circular gilt wood carved apron with an acanthus tied leaf wreath, raised on four fluted carved leg...
Marble
$1,660
H 27.96 in W 24.41 in D 16.15 in
Late 19th Century Sewing Or Side Table Napoleon III Wood Marquetry France
Located in Miami, FL
Antique Napoleon III sewing table, circa 1880 The marquetry is made of various woods. A brass feast surrounds the table top. The lift-up lid opens up to reveal a new mirror and compa...
Walnut
19th Century Napoleon III in the Louis Quinze Style Side Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid oak, slightly convex and concave-curved body, flanked by extended corner irons on tall, elegantly curved legs in sabots. Cover plate with mottled marble (torn in t...
Marble, Bronze
French Art Deco Burl Walnut Occasional or Side Table
Located in New York City, NY
French Modernist stepped two tier cubist end table in bookmatched walnut. The top surface raised on bull nose plinths, while the bottom tier is supported by alternating curved and sq...
Walnut
$3,890
H 19.69 in W 48.04 in D 27.56 in
Late 19th Century Spanish Carved Coffee table with Wood Stretchers
Located in Miami, FL
Spanish church table or altar from the 19th century with wooden columns and top with a fine line of hand carved marquetry. An unusual shape with a nice shiny patina. Good size for...
Walnut
19th Century French Walnut Louis XVI Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Beautiful 19th Century French Walnut Louis XVI Desk with immaculate new embossed leather writing surface. French Louis XVI bureau plat table desk...
Brass
Sold
H 28.75 in Dm 19.25 in
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Rosewood Marquetry Gueridon Side Table
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This late nineteenth century French Louis XVI Style marquetry gueridon or side table is signed on the bottom by the maker Escalier de Crystal, Paris. The Escalier de Crystal firm was...
Bronze
French Aubergine and Gilt Japanned Occasional Table
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in New York, NY
With four drawers above a medial shelf, curved legs, decorated on all sides with exotic birds, old French printed paper label ‘[Maison de L'Escalier de Cristal]/Pannier-Lahoche & Cie, 1, Rue Auber & Rue Scribe, 6 [En face e Grand Opera...
Wood
Sold
H 30.07 in W 19 in D 19.25 in
Antique Belle Époque French Liquor Side Table by Escalier de Cristal, circa 1890
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Shippensburg, PA
This is a very exciting piece of exquisite craftsmanship by the firm of Escalier de Cristal in Paris, probably executed around the turn of the century. The quality of the table is se...
Brass, Bronze
French Louis XVI Gilt Gueridon Marble Table
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style (19th Century) white painted & gilt trim round gueridon table with 3 carved ram head legs and green marble top & shelf. (signed ESCALIER DE CRYSTAL, PARIS)
Marble