Monumental Louis XIV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Boulle Marquetry Casket Box

A Rare Wood and Silvered Bronze French Cigar Humidor by Charles Guillaume Diehl and Jean Brandely, C. 1860, Paris This extraordinary cigar humidor, crafted by the esteemed French ar...

An Exquisite and Rare French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Inkwell, circa 1875. A truly exceptional and jewel like quality inkwell encrier, made with the finest ormolu, mounted on bloodstone. A true collectors and one of a kind piece. Revival of the ancient régime in the late 19th century was paramount to the French furniture and bronze casting firms of the Belle Epoque. Imitation in the highest regard and replication of those tastes and styles was prevalent throughout the Paris Faubourg, where the most talented bronziers and ébénistes established their workshops. The present inkwell encrier recalls the late 18th century's obsession with hardstones - a taste expounded above all by the duc d'Aumont and, subsequently Marie-Antoinette. Such hardstone-mounted pieces, reminiscent of Renaissance schatzkammer objects, enjoyed a revived popularity at the end of the 18th century through the impetus of both the marchands-mercier and, more importantly, the hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, where the duc d'Aumont himself established a workshop in 1770 specializing in the cutting and polishing of precious hardstones. This exceptional inkwell encrier, sumptuously-mounted with finely chased gilt-bronzes, incorporates a highly-prized material such as bloodstone. Sometimes called the Sunstone, the meaning of Bloodstone comes entangled in fascinating history. The Ancient Greeks held the Bloodstone as a gem with glorious powers. They referred to it as Heliotrope, which directly translates to Sunstone. It was believed to have heavenly healing powers gifted by the gods and most certainly when it came to healing all things related to the blood. Even as we move forward into the Middle Ages, the Bloodstone takes another mystical story under its wing. It was believed to be formed from Christ's blood. It was said that during the Crucifixion, a few red spots of his blood dripped...

A Rare Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood and Chinese Lacquer cabinet, c. 1750 (Regence Period) A truly magnificent, monumental, and one of a kind cabinet, painted throughout with gi...

An Exceptional French Ormolu and Vernis Martin Kingwood Commode, Attributed to Henry Dasson, C. 1870 This remarkable commode cabinet epitomizes the elegance and craftsmanship of the...

Unusual and Ornate Gilt Bronze Champlevé Enamel Lidded Casket. After a bamboo box, this champlevé box contains five enameled faces with gilt bronze bamb...

Finest quality French 19th century bronze doré box. Beautiful scenes of cherubs at play on all sides. Boucher scenes. Lined with a beautiful silk original key.

19th century French Empire cloisonne bronze jewelry casket with blue velvet interior By: unknown Material: bronze, velvet, enamel, metal, copper Technique: gilt, cloisonné, champlevé, cast, molded, metalwork Dimensions: 5 in x 7 in x 6 in Date: late 19th century, circa 1890 Style: Napoleon III, Rococo Revival, Neoclassicism Place of origin: France This richly gilded jewelry...

Onyx, champlevé and gilt bronze jewelry box. Louis XV style, France, circa 1890.