An esteemed producer of bronze for many of Paris’s prestigious cabinetmakers during the late 19th century, Maison Mottheau et Fils is also renowned for elaborate furniture designs that combine function and decoration.
Throughout the late 1800s, Maison Mottheau et Fils designed and produced decorative gilt-bronze objets d’art and furniture, including ormolu-mounted tea tables and ornate Neoclassical-style clocks. However, the company was mostly known for its lines of exquisite Louis XVI wall lights, chandeliers, candelabras and lanterns. With the introduction of electricity in the 1890s, Maison Mottheau et Fils incorporated the new technology into its lighting fixtures, and the company flourished.
Maison Mottheau et Fils was inspired by famed bronzier Pierre Gouthière (1740–1806) in many of its designs; it also collaborated with several well-known French sculptors. Among them was Frédéric-Eugène Piat (1827–1903), who designed an onyx and gilt-bronze torchère lumineuse for the company that was shown at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Maison Mottheau et Fils’s display also featured a pair of large Napoleon III gilt-bronze candelabras, each lit by ten electric lights.
The company’s electrical lighting exhibit garnered critical acclaim, prompting the Art Journal to write in 1900 that the “French Section shows many examples of fine work applied under the new conditions, but we doubt if a more complete success is to be recorded to the credit of any exhibitor that can be conceded to Messieurs Mottheau et Fils.”
Today, pieces by Maison Mottheau et Fils continue to be highly sought by collectors of late 19th-century furniture.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of antique Maison Mottheau et Fils lighting, decorative objects and other furniture and collectibles.
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Twenty-Seven Light Chandelier, c.1890
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late-19th century French palatial ormolu bronze twenty-seven light chandelier by the renowned designer and bronzier Maison Mottheau et Fils. This chandelier is in superb cond...
Bronze, Ormolu
$23,696Sale Price|20% Off
A Very Fine C19th Ormolu Mounted Bureau de Dame by Maison Mottheau
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in London, GB
A French Ormolu Mounted Kingwood , Tulipwood and Parquertry Bureau De Dame dated C1880s The mount are by Maison Mottheau Lovely Bombe Shaped Decorated with Sunburst Parquetry and Angel Candelabras...
Kingwood
A Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze and Blue Enamel Cartel Clock and Barometer
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze and Blue Enamel Cartel Clock and Barometer, By Maison Mottheau & Fils., Paris. This exceptional cartel clock and aneroid barometer exhibit the finest p...
Bronze, Enamel
$36,850Sale Price|50% Off
19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu and Cut-Glass Chandelier by Mottheau et Fils
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and rare French 19th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted and cut-glass eight-light chandelier with a suspended bell-shaped blown-glass candle-bowl, by Mottheau et Fils,...
Bronze
Pair of Louis XV Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in London, GB
Pair of Louis XV Rococo style gilt bronze wall sconces. French, late 19th century. Measures: height 77cm, width 44cm, depth 24cm. The two wall lights in this pair are crafted fr...
Ormolu
French 19th/20th C. Louis XV Style Kingwood Parquetry & Ormolu Coffee Tea Table
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine French 19th/20th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood Parquetry and Ormolu Mounted Butler Coffee or Tea Table by Émile Mottheau - Maison Mottheau et Fils. The serpentine recta...
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Gilt-Bronze Clock and Barometer Set by Maison Mottheau et Fils
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in London, GB
Antique gilt-bronze clock and barometer set by Maison Mottheau et Fils French, c. 1880 Height 85cm, width 45cm, depth 30cm This ornamental clock and barometer set were crafted by th...
Bronze, Enamel
Magnificent French Gilt Bronze Chandelier, circa 1890-1900 by Maison Mottheau
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in Sheffield, MA
A Magnificent French Gilt Bronze Chandelier Circa 1890-1900 Stamped E. MOTTHEAU PARIS Maison Mottheau et Fils of Paris. 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris The fixture fe...
Ormolu
19th Century Baccarat Crystal Chandelier Five-Light Chandelier
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A lovely antique Baccarat crystal electrified chandelier, gilt brass beautifully decorated with several tiers of large pendaloques in different shapes and sizes, finishing at the bot...
Crystal, Brass
$4,270
H 45 in W 21 in D 21 in
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Five-Light Chandelier
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A fine Louis XVI style five-arm chandelier of gilt bronze and parcel patinated, extremely ornate with great details, France, 1880-1890. This wonderful piece is in its original condi...
Bronze
$3,500Sale Price / set|61% Off
H 13.8 in W 11 in D 4 in
Wall Sconces Gilt Bronze French Rococo Louis XV 18th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Wall Sconces Gilt Bronze French Rococo Louis XV 18th Century France. A pair of wall sconces made during the louis XV period in France. Two candleholding arms - can be wired if wanted...
Ormolu
$11,500
H 28 in W 16 in D 4 in
Allegorical Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock Depicting "Night and Day"
By Jacques Caffieri
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
The clock features a cartouche shaped case housing an hour and half-hour striking movement with a round white enamel dial, indicating the Roman numeral hours and the Arabic five-minute intervals by means of two pierced patinated bronze hands...
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Parquetry Inalid Side / Coffee Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality French late 19th century parquetry inlaid Kingwood side / coffee table, having gilded ormolu moldings, raised on elegant cabriole legs.
Mahogany
A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in Sheffield, MA
With a circular white enamel dial, surmounted by swags and ending with a woman’s face. Morbiere Movement
$2,730Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 22 in W 16 in D 5.5 in
Pair of Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Huntington, NY
This lovely pair of gilt-bronze sconces, have been cleaned rewired and are ready to use.
Bronze
$1,995
H 30.75 in W 19.5 in D 12 in
20th Century French Louis XV Walnut Kingwood Satinwood Inlaid Ormolu Side Table
Located in Germantown, MD
Absolutely gorgeous 20th Century French Louis XV two-drawer Walnut and Satinwood Inlaid Ormolu mounted Side Table. Very fine satinwood inlay works. Measures 19.5" in width, 12" in d...
Ormolu
Louis XV Style Cut Glass and Gilt Metal Chandelier 19th/20th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Louis XV Style Cut Glass and Gilt Metal Chandelier 19th/20th Century Height 20 x diameter 29 inches
Cut Glass
$2,800
H 37.75 in W 30.38 in D 18.75 in
Fine Antique French Marquetry Inlaid Bureau De Dame Circa 1890
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fine and very well made Ladies writing desk in Louis XV style. An antique bureau de dame, with highly detailed marquetry in exotic woods with bronze mounts. The desk with a slight bo...
Brass
French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV style (19/20th Century) gilt bronze wall sconce with five arms emanating from a scroll back with floral decoration. (SINGLE SCONCE)
Ormolu
20th Century French Louis XV Oak Coffee Table
Located in High Point, NC
20th Century French Louis XV Oak Coffee Table. Crafted in solid oak, this charming French coffee table reflects the graceful elegance of the Louis XV style with its gently curved cab...
Oak
Pair of Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in London, GB
Pair of Rococo style gilt bronze wall sconces French, late 19th Century Height 77cm, width 44cm, depth 24cm The two wall lights in this set are crafted from gilt bronze in the Rococ...
Ormolu
Sold
H 17.72 in W 8.67 in D 4.34 in
Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Clock and Barometer Set by Maison Mottheau
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in London, GB
This beautiful clock and barometer are contained by matching gilt bronze cases, wrought in the elaborate Louis XVI style, the duo thus constituting a pair. The cases feature gilt bro...
Ormolu, Bronze
Sold
H 11 in W 13.5 in D 6 in
French Ormolu-Mounted Bleu Turquin Marble Figural Clock by Maison Mottheau
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A French ormolu-mounted Bleu Turquin marble figural clock by Maison Mottheau Paris, circa 1880. A very nice clock, with very good quality mounts...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 69 in W 56 in D 41 in
Palatial Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier by Mottheau
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in Long Island City, NY
A unique and palatial late 19th century gilt bronze and cut crystal twenty-four-light basket chandelier By Mottheau and Son Paris Wonderful quality bronze casted cage in oval f...
Crystal, Bronze
Sold
H 10.25 in W 21.5 in D 7 in
French Bronze Sculpture of a Lioness by Mottheau Foundry, Signed G. Poitvin
By Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in Shippensburg, PA
FINE FRENCH BRONZE SCULPTURE OF LIONESS With foundry stamp of "Mottheau, Paris" and seal of "Syndicat Fabriq de Bronzes 1818 Unis" Signed "G. Poitvin" and impressed 1910, 22 and 10...
Bronze