Desk accessories, France, French 19th Century

Fine aesthetic movement clock in cloisonné enamel and gilded bronze, decorated with polychromed birds and flowers, and geometric gilded ornaments on a ...

Signed Diehl à Paris. Wood and silvered copper inkwell. Central drawer ornamented with an escutcheon and flanked by two small lateral drawers forming two containers, surmounted by a lid representing a nestling. Central niche ornamented with a winged creature. Inkwell flanked by two felines. Toped by a penholder representing a Moorish head resting on an eagle claw. This exceptional piece was realized thanks to the collaboration of ornemanist J. Brandely, sculptor E. Frémiet and cabinet-maker C.-G. Diehl. The motif of the fantasy creature dear to Diehl, is to be seen on the famous cabinet made by him in 1867 and now exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (Inv. 1989.197). Arriving in Paris in about 1840 Charles-Guillaume Diehl (1811-1885) founded his cabinet making and decoration firm at 19 rue Michel-le-Comte in 1885. His workshops produced elegant little pieces of furniture in rosewood and thuja and novelties with bronze and porcelain embellishments (see “Les ébénistes du XIXème siècle”, D. Ledoux-Lebard, Ed. de l’amateur, 1982, p.164). It was his luxury boxes, however (liqueur cellarettes, cigar cabinets, games boxes, cashmere cases, jewelry cases) which assured Diehl’s renown (see “l’Art en France sous le Second Empire”, Exposition Grand-Palais, Paris, 1979, p.133). Already rewarded with a bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1855 in Paris, he exhibited a jardinière with china columns and a liqueur cabinet at the Industrial Arts Exhibition in 1861. In collaboration with the designer Jean Brandely (active from 1867 until 1873), Diehl renovated his decorative repertory and created astonishing pieces of furniture in the Grecian style which had a dazzling success at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867, where his cabinets also won a silver medal. Certain motifs were so typical of Diehl’s work that they received extensive commentary by the art critic J. Mesnard in his book “Les Merveilles de l’Exposition Universal de 1867” (vol. II, pp. 133 & 149). He writes of a table of which “the pendant bearing hooks and the fan shaped radiating motif which ornaments the entablature are engraved with love” (p. 133) and a jewelry case where “The head in fine Grecian style makes up the essential part of the fine gilt bronze ornamentation” (p. 149). For this Universal Exhibition Diehl also formed a partnership with two famous sculptors: Emile Guillemin (1841-1907) who carved the relief for a mahogany sideboard with galvanic gilt bronzes (Orsay Museum, Paris, Inv. O.A.O. 992) and Emmanuel Frémiet (1824-1910) who executed the low relief for a cedar medal cabinet...

Beautiful wool and silk tapestry representing a banquet of a Pasha. While the guests eat, servants bring the dishes and musicians entertain the assembly. Tapestries were used to richly decorate a house and keep the heat inside a room by diminishing the cold radiation of the stones. It could be quickly and easily disassembled to be transported to another house. From a millefleurs decor at the beginning of the art of tapestry, the weavers have managed to increase the woven surfaces allowing the narrative unfolding of a story (biblical, mythological or literary stories) through hangings, set of tapestries on the same subject. The origins of Aubusson tapestry still remain uncertain, although some attribute its invention to Saracens who settled on the banks of the Creuse after their defeat at Poitiers in 732, while others believe it to be the fact that Louis 1...

Measurements with frames: Height 135 cm (53 in.), width 94 cm (37 in.) Magnificent pair of important paintings on the theme of “Fêtes galantes” and so dedicated to the art of sedu...

Pair of French Silver 19th Century Plates Domes Covers .France Minerva Hallmark – Total Weight 1,425 kg Engraved with the Charpin-Feugerolles coats of arms family, Counts of Souzy T...

A very fine pair of Imari porcelain vases, of tapering form with flared top. Decorated with polychrome birds and flowers on white background. The body is painted with shaped panels o...

19th Century Set of Brass Scale Weights, France A charming late 19th Century set of weights in brass, housed in their wooden stand. Weights such as these were used with different sc...

19th Century Faux Bamboo Desk Accessory Brass Ruler

In a time of computers and technology, this antique desk set harks back to a more romantic period when people read letters at their desks by candlelig...

Bronze inkwell dated circa 1880, angels subject supported by feline paws. Ink bowl in glass with bronze profile and "alla ruota" engraved base.

French 19th Century Stained Pine Desk Organizer

Handsome saddle leather letter holder. Great patina to leather. Good vintage condition. Paris, in the traditions of French big houses like Lancel or Dior.