Napoleon III Marble and Bronze Garniture, France, 19th Century

ABOUT IRIS The iris is a special and mysterious flower. Not only because of its striking appearance, but also from an artistic and historical point of view. It is also like a work of art, as though created by Mother Nature. The unique leaves of this plant not only create wonderful shadow casts, but also look as if they were painted by hand. It's no wonder that iris acts as the muse for countless artists, and can be seen in many famous works of art. The iris was first spotted in the time of Pharaoh Thutmose, in 1504 BC. He had the iris inscribed into the wall reliefs of a temple as a sign of his power, as well as decorating his sceptre with motifs of the flower. Since then, the iris has been a symbol of victory in Egypt. But the symbolism of the iris goes further than that. In Japan, the flower represents courage and is the symbol of the boys' festival. In Islamic cultures, the iris is a symbol of prosperity. In Europe, the flower was a popular weapon symbol in the Middle Ages and stood for chivalry. And in Christianity, the iris was seen as a symbol of the trinity because of its three-part flowers. With more than 300 varieties, the iris is now the most popular flower among growers and gardeners following the rose. Countless artists use the iris in their works and the flower is present in all eras. You can see the flower on furniture, vases, jewelry, fabrics, sculptures, coats of arms and much more. Did you know that the iris is also called the sword lily? It's not a coincidence that it used to symbolize physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by a weapon. We also see the flower in religious art, where it's often associated with Mary and Jesus. The iris is also associated with the Greek goddess Iris, where the flower symbolizes reconciliation and divine messages. This is also reflected in many paintings. Finally, the iris is also visible in Dutch and Flemish still-life paintings. This can be in a religious form, incorporated into an object or as a decorative flower. In the Art Nouveau art movement, the iris (along with other plants, such as the birch) was often used as an expression of feminine beauty. With its almost otherworldly appearance, the iris is perfectly suited to the Art Nouveau aesthetic and is featured in many well-known works of art. The poet of that era, Hermann Hesse...

Probably Italian, 19th Century patinated bronze candlestick in form of a dancing Fawn holding a candle-vessel in his hands, on its original wood base.

French Art Nouveau Ocean Life Theme Vase Cachepot Iridescent Stoneware & Patinated Bronze Crab Appliqué ca. 1900s ABOUT We present here a most unusual and utterly decorative Fren...

American Renaissance period. A Pair of Patinated Bronze Vases with Nymph and Satyr Bas-Reliefs by Roman Bronze Works, New York City, circa 1900. Dimensions: Height: 16 inches ...

Grand Tour Pair of Bronze Candelabras Late 19th Century DIMENSIONS Height: 10.33 inches Width: 4.75 inches Depth: 4.75 inches ABOUT We present to your attention a pair of stunning...

Charles Vital-Cornu (French, 1851 - 1927), Jouffroy’s and Pils’ pupil, he acquired a skillfulness mastery in carving marbles and producing bronzes. He used several patinas in his production. Indeed, if his pieces' embodiments are often golden-brown colored, the hollow part are darker. His figures, hands, faces, and bodies are of a great quality. Charles Vital-Cornu had participated in numerous annual ‘‘Salons’’ organized in Paris by ‘‘la Société des Artistes Français’’ where he got several awards, such as a mention of Honor in 1880 and 1881, a third class medal in 1882, a travelling grant in 1883, a second class medal in 1886, a bronze medal at the 1889 World Fair and, finally, a silver medal at the 1900 World Fair at the Grand palace...

An exceptional 19th century French Napoleon III period bronze centerpiece on marble base depicts Bacchus and Ariadne in full relief, plus an intriguing dragon's tail handle on each s...

Pair of large, green marble vases with ormolu mounts and two gilt bronze handles. The handles are richly decorated with foliage and meet the b...

A handsome and high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period black Belgian marble, ormolu and patinated bronze garniture set. The three pi...

Gilt-bronze and cloisonné garniture, France, 19th century. Clock works.

Decorate a dining table or a buffet top with this elegant, antique oval planter with zinc liner. Crafted in France circa 1870, and decorated with marquetry and parquetry motifs, the ...

We present you this wonderful pair of cassolettes, urns in English, in gray-green ash-colored marble veined with white. They feature a highly decorative gilded bronze mount adorned w...