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Bronze Sculpture "Chapelle de la Mémoire" 1994, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze with opalescent blue patina, Lalloz Foundry, 1/8, signed.
Category
20th Century French Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Chapelle de la Sérénité" 1991, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze with yellow and green patination, Lalloz Foundry, 1/8, signed.
Bibliography :
- 17th International Impact Art Festival, 1996, Kyoto (Japon), p.15
- Pierre Descargues, Cathe...
Category
20th Century French Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze sculpture "Sortie de chaos à l'oiseau" 2006, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze sculpture, Lalloz Foundry, signed.
Bibliography: Double sortie de chaos, page 14.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Sortie de chaos, avec silhouette" 2005, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze sculpture, Got Foundry, signed.
Bibliography: Sur l’invitation et l’affiche de l’exposition à la Galerie de Gustave Got, 2006.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Sortie de chaos, l’Esprit émerge" 2005, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze signed, got foundry.
Bibliography: Sur l’invitation et l’affiche de l’exposition à la Galerie de Gustave Got, 2006.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Head Bent Back" by Michel Warren
By Michel Warren
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze test with black patina signed and numbered 4/8.
Foundry Mark Valsuani F. Bagneux.
Category
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Head resting on the Shoulder" by Michel Warren
By Michel Warren
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze test with black patina signed and numbered 3/8.
Foundry Mark Valsuani.
Category
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Gagged Head Back" by Michel Warren
By Michel Warren
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze test with black patina signed and numbered 2/8. Foundry Mark Valsuani F. Bagneux.
Category
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Bust with a Bandaged Head" by Michel Warren
By Michel Warren
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Michel Warren (1930-1975)
Bronze test with black patina
Signed and numbered : 2/8.
Foundry Mark Valsuani : F. Bagneux.
Category
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Sanctuary" 2005, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze Sculpture
Lalloz Foundry,
Signed and Numbered : 1 / 8
Bibliography:
Pierre Descargues, Catherine Val la Clandestine, Paris, Area/Descartes & Cie, 2011.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Sortie De Chaos Aux Mots Éclatés" 2005, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze, got foundry, 2/8, signed.
Bibliography: Double sortie de chaos, page 8.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture "Zippered face"
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze with green patina.
Category
20th Century Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Monogrammed Bronze Sculpture
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Russian Bronze (Yousoupov R.U ?), circa 1930. Bronze patinated, monogrammed back.
Category
Vintage 1930s Russian Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Polychrome Terracotta "Sphere" by Anita Tullio
By Anita Tullio
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Anita Tullio (Born in 1935, Paris)
Polychrome terracotta, multiple signature stamp on base.
Category
20th Century French Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Set of Two Ceramic Dishs by Jacques Lignier, circa 1960-1970
By Jacques Lignier 1
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A set of two ceramic dishs by Jacques Lignier with beige, green, red glaze decorations.
Perfect original conditions.
Signed under the base "J. Lignier",
circa 1960-1970.
Measures...
Category
20th Century French Beaux Arts Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Materials
Ceramic
Painting "Tryptique des ambitions à venir" 1969, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Various technique, signed. Width 40 cm (close) - 80.5 cm (open).
Category
20th Century French Paintings
Materials
Paint
Painting "Tryptique des sanctuaires aux oiseaux" 1969, by Catherine Val
By Catherine Val
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Various Technique, resin and stone on the exterior shutters, signed and dated "69".
Measures: Width 40 cm (close) - 80.5 cm (open).
Category
20th Century French Paintings
Materials
Resin, Paint
Wood Sculpture Depicting John the Baptist
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This wood scultpure showing fine traces of polychromy depicts John the Baptist, one the Old Testament’s last prophets and the first martyr of the New Testament. He is easily recognizable with the lamb he is carrying in his left hand. The way the artist has carved the face exudes a spiritual strenght inherited from previous centuries.
Description
Saint John the Baptist is depicted bare feet, seated in a hieratic manner. His elongated face is marked by a beard and a moustache. The straight nose and wide eyes indicate a Spanish origin. This asumption is reaffirmed by the Saint’s resigned expression.
His parted hair frames his face while uncovering his ears.
He wears a round collar red-orange tunic, draped onto the body and belted at the waist. A flap of his green coat covers his knees and falls down in stylized pleats.
Following iconographic rules Saint John the Baptist is pointing with his right hand the lamb seated...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Spanish Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Wood Low-Relief Depicting a Werewolf and Saint George
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Exceptional polychrome wood low-relief depicting a werewolf and saint george after a woodcut by lucas cranach (“DER WERWOLF” 1512)
Provenance :
collection Brimo de Laroussihle
colle...
Category
Antique 16th Century German Renaissance Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
16th Century Southern Germany Wood Figure of Saint Roch
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Easily recognizable with his gesture of showing pest effect on his thigh this pilgrim saint is accompanied by an angel curing him. The quality of the wood is noteworthy.
Bibliography
Louis Réau, Iconographie de l’Art Chrétien...
Category
Antique 16th Century German Renaissance Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Late 15th Century Polychrome Wood Carving Depicting the Nativity
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
While the birth of Christ is briefly told in the Gospel of Luke (2, 7) it is in the apocryphal texts that we find most of the elements and details that have then inspired artists. As of the 14th century and even more of the 15th century the subject of the Adoration of the Child replaces in Western art the scene of the Birth, much favoured in Byzantine art. Instead of being depicted lying with the new-born swathed in the manger, the Virgin is now kneeling, her hands joined in prayer in front of the naked child. This change was probably hastened by the popularity of the visions of Saint Bridget of Sweden to whom the Virgin allegedly appeared to show how she had given birth to Jesus (Visions, VII, chap. 21).
Sheltered by a thatch-roofed structure the Virgin is kneeling in front of the Child Jesus. She wears a magnificent red dress under a large gold cloak. Her curled blond hair is partially veiled. The newborn is lying on a straw mat. Joseph is depicted with a parted beard and stands opposite from the Virgin. He wears a tunic and a coat with a purse hanging from the belt. His costume reminds us of the long journey him and Mary have accomplished to reach Bethlehem.
Two other women are present. One is looking through the stable’s window to observe the Holy Family while another one kneels in prayer in front of the divine child. The rich costume of the lady might indicate she is a donator.
However they could also both represent the women who took part in the birth of Christ, Zelemi and Salome. Salome, incredulous did not believe in the virginal conception of Mary and she is represented far from the scene. The artist has depicted her with an expression of doubt on her face. Zelemi, on the contrary, is a believer. She is rewarded by a place of honour at the heart of the scene, close to Mary.
To the left the donkey and ox that have accompanied Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem observe quietly the scene.
On the foreground two angels hold a scroll reading an excerpt from the Gloria : “/Gloria/ in excelsis /Deo/.” One of the angels wears a blue cape while the other’s is red Those two colours are very significant as during Middle-Ages blue symbolises hope and red charity. Together they express the hope in redemption thanks to the advent of Christ and his sacrifice to come.
Above the main scene, up a cliff, a small shepherd lets his herd of sheep graze amidst the trees. He is framed by two walled cities.
This wood carving is the work of a very skilled and inventive artist. The piece bears witness to his exceptional talent. The realism of the scene is emphasised by the amount of details depicted. The refinement of the carving itself is highlighted by the well preserved polychromy.
This key moment of the New Testament is set in a contemporary context thanks to the clothes of the characters and the scenes of rural life. The universal dimension of the scene is intensified while allowing contemporary viewers to grasp its meaning more easily.
This care for details, the picturesque realism as well as the extraordinary rendition of the cloths suggest it was made by a Flemish artist during the late 15th century.
This relief can be compared with the panel of the Nativity from the Saint-Vaast altarpiece made by Jacques Daret between 1433 and 1435, today in Madrid’s Thyssen-Bronemisza Museum.
Literature
Louis Réau, Iconographie de l’Art chrétien...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Dutch Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Element of an Outdoor Carved Woodwork Showing a Salamander from a Normand House
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This carved oak woodwork was probably placed on the facade of the house, close to the roofing framework of a Norman house. The sculptor had depicted the salamender frontview in a sty...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Gothic Statues
Materials
Oak
16th Century Spanish Walnut Chair
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This walnut chair stands on four square-section feet linked by four crossbars. The front spacer is carved as an intertwined branch. The backrest’s jambs are adorned with leaves motif...
Category
Antique 16th Century Spanish Renaissance Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Walnut
Gilded Wood Italian Mirror
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large Italian mirror with a carved gilded wood frame. A roundel is covered by laurel leaves and folliage-scrolls on a smooth background.
The outer edge i...
Category
Antique 17th Century Italian Other Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Burgundian Renaissance Cabinet Depicting the Four Evangelists
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
The cabinet’s upper body, slightly recessed is topped by an overlapping entablature and cornice supported both in the front and the rear by four fluted columns.
The lower body stands on four squared feet and a moulded base. Each door-leaf’s panel is centred by a low-relief carving presenting one of the four evangelists...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
French Renaissance Armoire
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Original lock and key
This piece of furniture shows no recess on its upper part. It opens with four folding-doors and two drawers within the belt. The key bears the date 1524 above cross motifs.
Burgundy and Lyon regions subordinated themselves to architecture in a different manner than the other french schools. Rather than using particularly columns and pediments pieces of furniture from Lyon borrow architecture’s organization principles and rigorous designs.
On the upper body a strong feeling of balance and symmetry appears with the folding doors reliefs. Swags of flowers and fruits held with knot cloth centered by a man seating on his arms. Here profiles, masks and chou de Bourgogne mingle with the structuring scrolls. The two lateral terms wear draperies and the goddess Diana in the center wears a belt of fruits similar to Hugue Sambin’s designs (Termes de Diane et de Venus, 1554, BNF).
The two palm-leaves enriched drawers and the alternating scrolls belt balance the weight of the cornice with its alternatings consoles and tops.
The lower body is also adorned by three terms with a feminine one in the center, all three are wearing fruits on their heads. The folding doors are centered upon a motif of cut cuirs by a mask in high relief. Wearing a feathered tiara...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Wardrobes and Armoires
Materials
Walnut
Small Spanish Polychrome Cabinet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This low, small sized cabinet opens thanks two door-leaves adorned with flowers and drapes. The rest of the cabinet bears a painted decor emulating marble with red veins.
Category
Antique 17th Century Spanish Other Cabinets
Materials
Oak
Renaissance Cupboard from Loire Valley, 'France'
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This cabinet is composed of two bodies, the upper one being recessed. The extraordinary proportions are enriched by a mythological and floral carved decor.
The Lower body stands o...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Two Henri IV Armchairs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Those armchairs made from a fine walnut wood are perfect example of the Henri IV model.
It’s low seat stands on four feet linked by an H-shaped spacer wit...
Category
Antique 17th Century French Renaissance Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Important Renaissance Cabinet from Lyon 'France' with a Decor of Perspectives
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
As soon as 1540 France's second Renaissance is in the making, intimately linked to the rediscovery of the Antique world. The development of the printing and engraving industry allows the spread of artworks and models in many cities and countries. The Italian influence can be perceived in every artistic field. While the French king entrust the most talented Italian artists with major projects such as Il Rosso or Primaticcio in Fontainebleau, French artists also travel to Italy to form themselves to this new style. In Italy they get acquainted with the work of Leo Battista Alberti the first to theorize perspective (De Pictura, 1435-36) and architecture (De re oedificatoria, 1541). Those two publications would have a revolutionary impact on arts.
Furniture is marked by the work of the most famous Italian architects of the time as well as French architects. Indeed Philibert de l'Orme competes with Alberti and by the end of his life publishes several treaties including one devoted to a theory of architecture (1567). Unfortunately he would not live to complete the second volume. In this treaty he expresses his interest for mathematical norms applied to architecture, copied from the Antique. His journeys in Italy allowed him to accumulate the most sophisticated references. Jean Bullant, another architect of great talent also theorizes his practice. He establishes rules characterizing Greco-Roman art staying faithful to Vitruvius.
Following this new inspiration the structure of furniture evolves. From then on appear columns, capitals, cornices, friezes and architraves. The ornamentation uses this inspiration as well with egg-and-dart, palm leaf and rose adorning the most beautiful pieces.
In Lyon, crossroad where meet merchants from everywhere those new experiments are welcomed. Lyon florishing printing industry allows the spreading of models and treaties essential to the artist's work. Thus the first publication of Vitruvius' De Architectura in France would be printed in Lyon in 1532.
Artists from Lyon rediscover and familiarize themselves with the Antique knowledge very early. They adopt those new ideas and use them in their own creations. Lyon cabinet-makers re interpret Antique architecture and Italian Renaissance palaces to give their pieces a pure and harmonious architectural structure. Grooved pilasters are particularly favored. They are topped by capitals of diverse orders always respecting the sequencing with simpler ones for the lower levels and the richest ones on the higher levels. As for the ornamentation, one of the great distinctiveness of Lyon workshops remains the architectural perspective illusions, drawing inspiration from Tuscany.
True masterpiece of the Second French Renaissance this important cabinet illustrates Lyon workshops' taste for fine Italian architecture inspired by Antiquity. An architectural perspective of great quality is treated in symmetry on each panel.
This two-bodied cabinet without recess stands on four rectangular feet. The base comprises a molding, a palm leaf frieze and is bordered by a braid.
The lower body is divided by three grooved pilasters with Tuscan capitals framing two door-leaves. The two panels are encircled by a moudled frame with palm leaves. They are finely carved with a decor of fantasized architecture depicting an Italian Renaissance palace erected symmetrically on each side of a grooved pilaster. On the ground floor a door opens through a stilted arch while the stories are opened with mullioned windows, dormers and occuli. Two large pegged-boss cladded pillars support the entablature enriched by a palm leaf frieze upon which stands an arch whose coffered intrados is centred by a rose. Behind this arch a pyramid appears, standing in front of a second facade with a window topped by a broken curvilinear pediment under a cul-de-four with a shell.
The checker flooring gives depth to the low-reliefs creating vanishing points structuring the panels and guiding the eye of the observer.
A thin laurel braid highlights the belt of the cabinet where are located two drawers. Their facades are adorned by palm leaves in hoops.
The upper body is encircled with palm leaves. The same ternary division as in the lower body appears. However, the pilasters are topped by Ionic capitals with volutes and egg-and-dart. The door-leaves are framed with flowers. On the panels the artist has designed another architectural decor. On the foreground open two arches on top of grooved pilasters with rectangular capitals adorned with palm leaves. The arches are enriched with braids and the coffered intrados bears a decor of roses. The spandrels also bear a flower decor. In the background another arcature hosts a fluted grooved column topped with double basket acanthus capital, characteristic of Corinthian order. The triangular pediment is interrupted by a choux bourguignon.
A large cornice crowns the cabinet. It stands on pilasters and forms an entablature comprising a palm leaf frieze and an egg-and-dart, triglyph and palm leaf cornice.
The cabinet's sides have also been carefully considered. The lower body's panels are enriched with an arch rising above a broken pediment portico hosting a twisted column. Flowers garnish the spandrels. An architectural facade completes the decor. The upper body's panels present two arches supported by a facade opened with dormers and mullioned windows as well as cartouches (one bears the inscription 1580 dating the cabinet) suggesting the interior of an Italian Renaissance palace, confirmed by the chandeliers. The flooring leads our gaze to a second arch with a broken curvilinear pediment where stands a flower vase. This arch opens onto a perspective of another facade along a road.
Inside the cabinet, on the lower body door-leaves appear two designs. On the right door is depicted a Crucifixion. Saint Mary and Saint John flank the Christ on the cross. In the bottom part is inscribed « Dure uiator abis nihil haec spectacula curas / Pendenti cum sis unica cura Deo. / Tota suo moriente dolet natura Magistro. / Nil qui solus eras caussa dolenda doles. ». The signature [Christoff Swartz Monachiensis pinx[it] / Ioa[nnes] Sadeler sculp[it]] tells us it was made by Johan Sadeler I (1550-1600) after Christoph Schwartz (1548-1592). This engraving belongs to an ensemble depicting the Passion of Christ Johan Sadeler executed in 1589 after an altar piece painted by Christoph Schwartz for the private chapel of Renée of Loraine, wife of Duke William V of Bavaria. This altar piece made of nine copper panels has been destroyed during the 19th century. The Crucifixion panel once in the centre of the altar piece is the only one that survived and is today kept in Munich's Alte Pinakothek.
On the left door appears Saint Francis receiving the stigmata. The inscription says : « Signastidomine Servum Tuum. Franciscum. Signis Redemptionis Nostrae ».
This Renaissance cabinet with an architectural decor appearing as much in the structure faithful to Antique rules...
Category
Antique 16th Century European Renaissance Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Large 16th Century Tuscan Wedding Chest Called "Cassone"
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large wedding chest in tinted and gilded walnut, the lid animated with a frieze of pearls, the sides with compartments, the belt decorated with gadroons. It rests on four claw feets.
Category
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Blanket Chests
Materials
Walnut
Renaissance Palace Wardrobe with Perspectival Views
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A rare carved walnut wardrobe opening with four door-leaves and two drawers in the lower part. The doors bear architectural views in low reliefs, fluted pilasters and Ionic capitals.
Upper Body
Two door-leaves with carved architectural perspectives open the wardrobe framed by three fluted pilasters with Ionic capitals.
Each door-leaf depict two semi-circular arcades whose cornice and base shows a central vanishing point. Likewise the pavement’s lines act for the artisan as a way to create depth. The vaulting instead leads us to think the vanishing point has to be situated where the handle is, between the two complementaries reliefs.
The elegant moulded belt hides an internal secret space, accessible through a moveable plank in the upper body.
Lower Body
Two door-leaves identical to those of the upper body framed by three fluted pilasters with Doric capitals. The base of the wardrobe opens with two large drawers.
The sides also bear panels depicting architectural perspectives. The external pilasters share their Ionic capital with the facade’s pilasters. Thus we can observe on the wardrobe’s sides the capital’s lateral parts with the elegant volute specific to the Ionic order.
This palace wardrobe is topped by an overlapping cornice standing on three consoles for the facade and two consoles on each sides. Placed right above the pilasters each console are adorned by fully expanded leaves.
During the 15th century a major interest for architecture and perspective studies arises and influences patrons tastes. The work of great theorists such as Leon Battista Alberti...
Category
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Wardrobes and Armoires
Materials
Walnut
Rare Gothic German Oak and Iron Chest Known as "Stollentruhe"
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This large chest stands on high legs prolonging the lateral jambs. Presenting a sober and severe appearance the chest still belongs to the Medieval tradition. The piece is made from very high quality Hungarian wood.
The jambs are joined to the facade and the lateral sides thanks to pegged mortise and tenon securing a great stability and squareness between each parts. The upper lid is made of two joined parts and so is the facade.
The ironwork is present all over the surface of the chest and brings both an additional stability to the construction as well as a rich decor. The lid is secured with hinges. Hinges also run all over the chest in horizontal and vertical lines, ending in a floral motif. The hasp lock is also very ornamental.
Those chests always present important proportions especially when they are made early in the period. This model was very popular in Germany and stayed in vogue until the 16th century. However the feet Gothic decor...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier German Gothic Blanket Chests
Materials
Wrought Iron
16th Century French Walnut Cabinet with Marble Inlays
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
On the left post of the lower body, is written the date 1596 in a cartouche
This cabinet has two bodies. The upper part, set back, is moulded and carved. At the bottom, the cabine...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
French Renaissance Cabinet with Perspectives
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This Renaissance Cabinet reveals the great mastery of the Lyon workshops which are at the origin of its realization. Sculptors and wood-carvers worked here in symbiosis to express an...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
17th Century Italian Armchair with Plumage
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
The straight uprights of the backrest are surmounted by gilded plumages. Gilded acanthus leaves in the form of consoles adorn the top of the two front legs, supporting the large flat...
Category
Antique 17th Century Italian Renaissance Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
17th Century Emblazoned Germanic Armoire
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This interesting oak cabinet of germanic workmanship is a wedding furniture.
The cabinet rests on a molded base, opens with two doors located on e...
Category
Antique 17th Century German Other Wardrobes and Armoires
Materials
Oak
Exceptional Italian Renaissance Cassone with Rich Carving on a Gilt Background
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
The lower part of the facade is adorned with a foliated and fruit garland.
The facade’s central panel bears a low-relief decor framed by a rais-de-cœur frieze. The central scene a...
Category
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Blanket Chests
Materials
Walnut
French Renaissance Table said "à l'italienne"
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Measures: Closed length : 137 cm – opened lenght : 255 cm
Beautiful table of the Second French Renaissance, said ‘à la du Cerceau’. It is in effect a model close to the projects d...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Dining Room Tables
Materials
Walnut
Northern Italy Renaissance Cathedra with a Canopy
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This cathedra or chayère chair is conceived following rules of monumental architecture. The seat can be lift open to reveal a chest. Both curved arm-rests are supported by a baluster...
Category
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Armchairs
Materials
Walnut
Rare Renaissance Dresser with Marquetry and Pastiglia, from Alsace 'France'
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This sideboard, with rich marquetry decoration, consists of two parts. The decorated upper body allows for the display of fine silverware. Superb carve...
Category
Antique Early 17th Century French Renaissance Dressers
Materials
Walnut
Renaissance Cabinet form Lyon 'France'
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Condition : Partly dating from the Renaissance. The backs and the drawer’s insides have been re-done.
Historical background
The 16th century is a prosperous period for Lyon...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
First French Renaissance Dresser
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Provenance : Chabrières Arlès collection then through descent
Under the reign of Henry II, during the French Renaissance, the rigour of composi...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Dressers
Materials
Oak
Carved Tuscan Wedding Cassone, Renaissance Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This cassone, remarkable for its sobriety, sits on two clawed lion’s feet and a moulded base.
On the façade, there is one large, moulded frame, with two soberly carved medallions inside it. Each medallion has a painted coat of arms at the centre. The two coats of arms are different, suggesting that there was an alliance between two families through marriage.
The thick lid has a fluted frieze at the front.
On the sides, a wrought iron handle reminds us of the use of this piece, which was intended for storing the property of its owner and allowing them to travel between various residences. The square shaped handles highlight the earliness of this object in the century.
The cassone is, along with the bed, a key piece of furniture of the Middle Ages and was still used in the Renaissance Period.
Category
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Blanket Chests
Materials
Walnut
Renaissance Walnut Dresser
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
The Middle Ages dresser is a piece of furniture divided in two parts. The bottom part is open while the upper part is full and closed.
The upper part is decorated with an abundanc...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Dressers
Materials
Walnut
16th Century Cabinet with Knights Carving from Avignon Workshops 'France'
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Collection Jean Thuile
Around the mid-sixteenth century French furnishing evolves in its conception and ornamentation. The start of major archi...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Important 14th Century Polychrome Limestone Virgin from Lorraine
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Provenance :
- Kunsthaus Heinrich Hahn, Frankfurt am Main, sale 16, June 17, 1930, lot 16.
- Sotheby's, Amsterdam, Feb. 26, 2006, lot 201.
HISTORIC
Located between Moselle valley and Meuse valley, framed by the Vosges Mountains on the south side and the duchy of Luxembourg on the north side, the duchy of Lorraine is the result of several partitions. It starts with the 9th century when the Carolingian empire is divided, with Lothar 1st inheriting Lotharingia. In 959 this territory was in turn divided in two; Lower and Upper Lotharingia, the latter being the forebear of the duchy of Lorraine. This duchy was under the rule of the Holy Roman Germanic Empire until 1736 when it was absorbed by the kingdom of France.
All along its history the duchy of Lorraine has found itself in the midst of many conflicts. Alliances and feuds marking European history were always particularly sensible in Lorraine where instability was frequent. Because of its geographic position the duchy of Lorraine was also an artistic crossroad.
Hence the duchy of Lorraine becomes from the 13th century onwards an important artistic centre where a particular type of Virgin and Child appears. According to professor J. A. Schmoll the characteristics of Lorraine sculpture burgeon around 1280-1300 in the Aube region. It presents “vigorous volumes, restrained movements, rare but solemn gestures and a strong interiorised and stern expression”. Those Virgins look similar with a wide forehead, a shield- or oval-shaped face, large neck, small lips and a cleft chin.
This model is particularly in favour during the 13th century because of the revival for Marial worship and for the theme of the Virgin and Child. It bears witness to a new religious sensibility with a more intimate vision of religious practice.
DESCRIPTION
The important 14th century Virgin we present to you is one of the most beautiful examples of sculptural art from Eastern France, with her fascinating distant gaze.
Her contrapposto posture is induced by the weight of the child she carries high on her left side. The child has a chubby face framed by blond hair with well defined curls and he wears a long red V-collared tunic from which emerge his feet. The fabric is animated by long folds. The position of the right foot turned to the back is a detail we can notice on several Virgins from Lorraine. He holds a bird that seems to be pecking his thumb.
“The bird /held by the child in his hands/ has been read as a reference to an episode from Christ’s childhood when he has moulded sparrows with clay before giving them life. It appears in the apocryphal gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (ch. 27) and later in the Quran (III, 43, v. 110). However the iconography seems to be more influenced by the concept of Redemption or of Eucharist, the bird symbolising the soul of the Christian about to be redeemed or revitalised.”
Mary wears a long dress with two rock crystal cabochons remaining from the original five. She is covered by a red cloak enriched with old-gold motifs draped as an apron falling in long pleats along her left hip. The relief treatment and the volume of the cloak developing a network of concentric pleats contrast with the the flat pleating of her dress. They nevertheless suggest the curve of her bent right leg.
She wears a floret crown securing a short thin veil carved in very low relief. From it emerges her blond curled hair characteristic of the 13th century. The large face with almond-shaped eyes, straight nose, small lips and cleft chin casts its gaze afar in a fashion typical of 13th century Virgins.
In her right hand she holds a lily flower. In a very refined manner the artist has carved a band on her right ring-finger.
In the back, carefully sculpted, spreads the minutely detailed short veil.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES
This sculpture of great quality presents obvious similarities with Virgins from Lorraine, designated by William Forsythe...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Limestone
16th Century Polychrome Reliquary of a Monk
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
The monk is depicted with an oval face, marked with high and strong cheekbones, sunken cheeks, strong jawbones and a cleft chin. His almond shaped eyes are opened under very strong a...
Category
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Busts
Materials
Wood
Renaissance "Chayère" Chair
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This chayère chair of beautiful proportions stands on a rectangular box base enriched by vermiculure motifs executed in flat-plane. This base is topped by a moulding of strong gadroo...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Armchairs
Materials
Walnut
16th Century Renaissance Two-Bodied Cabinet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Former collection Altounian
At the beginning of the reign of Henri II (1547-1559) the furniture’s ornamentation evolves. The few medieval motifs that were still used are eventually relinquished. Furniture becomes more sober showcasing moulded panels and perfect architecture. Cabinet-makers use ornaments such as curved fluted or plain columns, feather quills, roses or winged putti heads. High-relief carving becomes more scarce and compositions lighter. To that end cabinet-makers draw inspiration from Fontainebleau motifs filtering them and adapting them to French taste.
During this period cabinet-makers turn into a kind of architects. Indeed the architectural balance of furniture is the centre of their concerns. The study of Antic formulas is then a necessity. From this care given to proportions appear refined cabinets with pure lines.
This style is characteristic of the reign of Henri II and disappears soon after under the regency of Catherine de Medici (1560-1574) when an abundance of high and low-relief ornaments comes back on furnitures.
This two-bodies cabinet...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Gothic Revival Apothecary Cabinet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wooden apothecary cabinet with carved decoration in neo-Gothic style. The capitals are carved with Baphomets holding two figures by the hair for one and fantastic birds for the other...
Category
Early 20th Century European Gothic Revival Wardrobes and Armoires
Materials
Oak
13th Century Virgin and Child from Catalonia
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Seating on a bench-like throne the Virgin carries her child on her left knee.
She bears an important crown high on her head .The Virgin has an ovoid face with bulging eyes, straight long nose and thin lips. The hair parts in the middle and are carved as thick horizontals parallel hair strands...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Spanish Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Oak
15th Century Burgundian Low-Relief Depicting Scenes of the Nativity
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Provenance : In the same private collection for several generations, Burgundy.
The canonical Gospels describe briefly the episode of the Nativity. It comprises three parts :
• The Preludes : the Journey to Bethlehem, the Census
• The Nativity
• The Announce to the Shepherds and the Adoration of the Magi
Only the Gospel according to Matthew (2, 1-12) speaks about the Adoration of the Magi. Staying vague about their number it does say they brought the newborn gold, incense and myrrh. The apocryphals, the fathers of the Church and many other authors have filled in the gaps of the evangelic tale. The sobriety and symbolic of the story have been a huge inspiration to artists. Although one of the oldest depictions of the Adoration of the Magi dates from the 2nd century the theme became very popular in Christian art during the late 14th century. One of the reasons explaining this success is that it celebrates both the Virgin and Christ at the same time.
This important walnut panel is carved in a strong relief and depicts the different steps of the story of Jesus’ birth.
On the left, the donkey and ox that have accompanied Mary and Joseph from Bethlehem are depicted behind a trough. On the thatch roof appears the star that would guide the magi to the place of birth of Jesus.
Mary is wearing a veil and is seating on a bed. She holds her baby at arm’s length to present him to the magi. Saint Joseph is by her side. The old man is holding a cane in his left hand while from the right hand he seems to uncover himself to greet the visitors.
A woman assists to the scene.
In front of the holy family the three magi stand behind one another to pay their homage to the newborn.
The first magi has a pointed beard. He is already kneeling out of deference and has placed his crown to his feet. He gives the baby a hanap filled with gold coins. This is Melchior as the legend describes him with white hair and a long beard.
Caspar, the second magi bears a cup of incense. He is looking at the third magi and with his right hand he points to the star that has guided them there. He has a short beard and wears crakow shoes, breeches and a wide sleeved doublet.
Finally Balthazar, the elegant last magi proceeds proudly towards the holy family with his one hand on the saber’s hilt and the other holding a cup. He brings the divine child the myrrh. He probably just dismounted as the horse can be seen behind him.
The scene is set in a very detailed and narrative decor. In the right part of the panel the shepherd receive the announce of Jesus’ birth. An angel comes down from heaven with a scroll bearing the good news in his hands. The herding dog sleeps peacefully while sheeps graze. At the top of the cliff we notice the gilded sheeps enclosure.
The panel’s moulded frame is carved with a foliated decor. In it’s centre appears a coat-of-arms. It is the alliance of the three magi’s arms. Indeed as it was common for legendary figures the three of them received imaginaries coat-of-arms. Thus, on a field of azure stands a star for Melchior, a crescent for Caspar and a pennon for Balthazar.
This high-relief panel is undeniably the work of a very skilled and imaginative artist. This key moment in the New Testament is transposed to a contemporary environment thanks to the figures’ clothing and the rural daily life scene. This way the universal dimension of the episode is highlighted allowing a better understanding for the contemporaries.
The sculptor has represented the episodes of the Adoration of the Magi and the Announce to the Shepherd with great talent and numerous details giving life to a picturesque and narrative scene. The important traces of polychromy give those already very animated scenes a stronger pictorial power and a rich dynamism.
Because of the picturesque and familiar realism so dear to the artists of the late Medieval era, of the didactic function of this type of panel as well as the quality of the sculpture this piece is an astounding example of Burgundian art of the 15th century.
Literature
Louis Réau, Iconographie de l’Art chrétien...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Walnut
Gothic Virgin and Child from Flanders
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Exhibition
Museum Cantini, 1952, The art of the Middle Ages in the Marseille collections, n°101
Provenance
Former collection Louis Bresset (before 1952)
Former collection Profe...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Dutch Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Gothic Virgin and Child with a Phylactery
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This Virgin and Child is wearing clothes with a limited number of folds and showing a thickness characteristic of the Burgundy region. As a result of the presence in the region of th...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Walnut
14th Century Sculpture of the Head of an Angel from East of France or Rhineland
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This face with prominent eyes, open mouth and beautiful hairs with symetrical undulations may be the face of the Archangel Gabriel.
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Carlo Ramous, Abstract Composition
By Carlo Ramous
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Carlo Ramous (1926-2003)
Abstract composition, Circa 1960
Bronze sculpture with brown patina
Signature of the artist
Foundry’s mark : Fonderie MAF Ramos Milano
Numeroted 2/3.
Category
Vintage 1960s Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Albert Leclerc, "Portrait of a Woman"
By Albert Leclerc
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Albert Leclerc (1906 – 1975)
Portrait de femme
Signed on the chignon : « Albert Leclerc », along the lower right edge foundry mark « Susse Fondeur Paris »
Bronze, with brown p...
Category
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Magdalena Reinharez, Dromaderies
By Magdalena Reinharez
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Magdalena Reinharez
(1925 – 2012)
Dromaderies
Bronze sculpture
Signed « Magdalena Reinharez 3/8 »
Numeroted 3/8
Foundry mark : Chapon, Paris
Biography
Born in Central Europe, Magdalena Reinharez arrives in France at a young age. She takes her painting class with masters such as Fernand Léger and André Lothe...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Sculpture "Woman" by Blasco-Ferrer
By Eleuterio Blasco Ferrer 1
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
BLASCO-FERRER Eleuterio said Blasco
Born in 1907 in Foz-Calanda in Aragon (Spain)
"Woman"
Old collection Raton, Gabrielle Laroche’s collection...
Category
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Iron