Gold Decorative Objects

Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamond, Silver-Gilt, Rock-Crystal, Obsidian & Lapis Horse An extremely rare and unique, one of a kind French gold, diamonds, Silver-gilt rock-crystal, obsidian and lapis lazuli jeweled sculpture "Bucéphale, Chevaux de légende", "Bucephalus, A Legendary Horse" by Mellerio, Paris, circa 1998. Sitting on black obsidian base, the solid rock crystal slab is finely applied with a lapis lazuli half-horse with harness mounted in 18k gold and brilliant cut diamonds, between two crystal and lapis lazuli columns adorned with gold and diamonds, insert with 7 ruby cabochons and 1 emerald cabochon, the obsidian base with a plaque engraved: CHEVAUX DE LEGENDE / MELLERIO DITS MELLER / PARIS / 5029 DIV Bucephalus (c355-326 BC) is among the most famous horses in history, and it was said that this he could not be tamed. The young Alexander the Great, of course, tamed him – and went on to ride his beloved equine companion for many years and into many battles. The piece is in excellent condition and comes with a custom made wood case made for transport. It's very elegant and has French hallmarks throughout. A truly magnificent piece. Measures 10" high x 9" wide x 4" deep Founded in France in 1613 by the descendants of Italian immigrants from the Vigezzo Valley in the north of Italy, Mellerio is one of the oldest jewellery houses in Europe. The family business soon attracted the attention of the Royal Court and Marie Antoinette herself reportedly purchased a precious bracelet featuring 7 cameos surrounded by rubies in 1780. Later on, in the 19th century, Mellerio became the official supplier of the French Royal family and the Court of Netherland. Mellerio creates many jewellery items, all set with rare gems such as peridots, amethysts, aquamarines, citrines and topaz, applying for a patent, the flexible stem, a very supple and light jewellery mechanism. Mellerio remains also well known for their spectacular series of Art Nouveau jewels, created at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as for the creation of trophies rewarding some of the greatest footfall and tennis players of history. In 1993, the jewellery house launched their first watch collection. Today, Mellerio has stores in Paris, Japan and Hong Kong. July 14, 1789: this date is known throughout the world as the beginning of the French Revolution. According to a ledger belonging to House of Mellerio, this was also the day that the jeweler sold a golden key to the Comte de Coutance for 10 livres. This ledger, as well as inventories dating as far back as 1768, are the jeweler’s oldest archives. These archives have continued to grow over the years, as the House, established on rue de la Paix in Paris, still lives on today, still in the hands of the same family from Craveggia, in the North of Italy. The tumultuous history of the Mellerio family in France probably goes as far back as the Italian wars of the Renaissance, but the first official document proving their commercial activity in Paris dates back to 1613. This document is the famous royal warrant awarded by Marie de Medici to a number of Italian families established along the rue des Lombards, including the Mellerios, allowing them to sell “small jewelery items”, therefore granting them a small exception to the traditional monopoly enjoyed by Parisian jewelers. At that time, powerful corporations regulated the operations and customs of Parisian business, but thanks to this exceptional warrant, the Mellerios managed to escape the confines of this framework. Today, this wax-sealed document is kept at the city hall of Craveggia. From 1613 to the Revolution, the Mellerios lived between France and Italy. The corporations tried many times to put an end to their trade privileges, but all in vain, as a dynasty of sovereigns renewed the warrant. Always marrying and often retiring in Craveggia, the Mellerios continued to maintain their jewelry business in Paris. At first, they did this without a shop. Wearing backpacks (wooden boxes divided into small compartments where jewels were kept), they would tour town fairs around Paris and royal castles. This is how Jean-Baptiste Mellerio (1765-1850) is said to have sold a bracelet set with rubies and Antique cameos to Marie-Antoinette, which still exists today. Many elements seem to prove the veracity of this anecdote. The queen was particularly fond of cameos, which cover the entire background of her famous jewelry cabinet, and ruby was her favorite stone after diamond. The famous bracelet, reacquired a few years ago by the House of Mellerio, is indeed an 18th century jewel, set with antique cameos representing the profiles of Roman emperors. Two branches of the family were operating in Paris during this time, under the reign of Louis XVI: that of Jean-François (1746-1828), the paternal ancestor of the current Mellerios, and that of Jean-Baptiste (1765-1850). The French Revolution forced them to return to Italy. However, both Jean-Baptiste and François Mellerio (1772-1843), who was the son of Jean-François, were eventually able to return to Paris after the founding of the Consulate. Jean-Baptiste opened a shop at the Iron Crown of rue Vivienne, and François opened his at the Palais des Tuileries, rue du Coq Saint-Honoré. His well-organized order books give an idea of his high-ranking clientele during the “Old Regime”, among which were the Comte and Comtesse Octave de Segur, the Marquise (later Duchess) de Tourzel, former governess of the royal children, and her daughter, the Comtesse de Bearn, the Craufurds -who organized the flight to Varennes, the Duc and Duchess de Gramont, the Comtesse de Boigne, and Madame de Souza, Talleyrand’s mistress. We also see the names of the imperial family: Empress Josephine, the Queen of Holland, Princess Elisa, Caroline and Pauline. At that time, the House of Mellerio specialized, among other things, in the trade of antique cameos, a newly fashionable genre of jewel that captured the imagination of all the princesses and noble women of the time. The years of the Restauration and July Monarchy were among the most glorious. The Bourbons were back on the throne, and the clientele of the House of Mellerio had regained its former wealth. Mellerio supplied Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, as well as his mother, wife and sister, with sumptuous jewels, including a set of emeralds made piece by piece, while the Duke of Bourbon, last prince of the House of Condé, offered diamonds to his mistress, the scheming Baronne de Feucheres, and Monsieur de LaFayette also bought cameos for one of his granddaughters. For the first time, Mellerio ventured into the world of arts in 1815, when Carlotta Grisi, a famous dancer who created Giselle, as well as an actress named Rachel, bought jewels at the Mellerio store on rue de la Paix. 1848 marked a new turning point. France once again became a Republic. François Mellerio handed the company over to his son, Jean, and the latter decided to travel to Spain to build a new clientele. He later became one of the jewelers of the royal family, and met Eugénie de Montijo, who remained a faithful client when she became empress of the French people. The Imperial years were lavish. During the Second Empire, Paris was a pageant of crinoline dresses designed by Worth, while jewels by Mellerio, Worth’s neighbour on the rue de la Paix, adorned the noble women of the Tuileries court. The Empress bought pearls. Mathilde Bonaparte...

Beautiful and unusual, vintage Murano hand blown slight iridescent surface with gold flecks accents Italian art glass decorative bowl. The piece is attributed to designer Ercole Baro...

Charming Mid-Century Italian hand crafted box in red leather and gold embossed with fleur-de-lis decoration. This box can be used to store your favorite pieces of jewelry as well a s...

A desk clock designed by Cartier. An impressive and beautiful desk clock, created in Paris France by the house of Cartier, during the art deco period, back in the 1920. This stunning rare piece has been designed with Chinoiserie patterns and carefully crafted up with parts in yellow gold of 18 karats and carved nephrite green jadeite jade. Accented with applications of navy blue enamel and fitted on top, with a hinged retractable handle. The movement is mechanical It is accompanied with the associated original key for the winding. The dial is silver with guilloche, Roman numerals with gold hands and inscribed, Cartier. Weight: 320.95 Grams, (205.74 Dwt). Measurements: 69 mm by 31 mm by 78 mm (2.72 x 1.22 x 3.07 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with French marks, five times with the head of the eagle for the assay and guaranty of the gold, two times with the maker's mark JM inside of a lozange cartouche and signed on the reverse, "CARTIER 1649". Literature: Olivier Bachet & Alain Cartier, Cartier Exceptional...

Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown emerald green and gold flecks Italian art glass swan sculpture / bird figurine. The swan has an elegant long thin neck with outstretched wings. Th...

Late 17th century Italian gold leaf angel wing with a coordinating baroque pearl and unique fossilized aragonite. The hand-carved angel wing was once part of a heavenly, angelic dep...

Charming Porcelain Trinket Box painted in purples, gold, green and royal blue. Upon opening the box there is a cute flower design inside the lid. This piece would certainly be a fant...

'Flow Petit No 20' is a unique artwork by the Danish artists, Egeværk. It is created from Wengé sourced from Africa - Congo and Cameroon - (wood, FSC* certified) with an inlay of 24c...

Unique stack of leather books design tantalus with hidden 'shot glasses' & decanters. If you are looking for the most interesting and worldly gift for yourself, a friend or a loved ...

Colorless, transparent cobalt non-lead glasses, metallic gold; blown with hot applications, hand forged and gilded metal, adhered. Tall blown vessel consisting of two equal conical ...

Vintage Royal Copenhagen porcelain vase features streamlined elongated form with fluted rim and terra cotta and grey crackle or craquelure glaze with gold band decor on the inner rim...

Rectangular tray with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels with two-tone stripes on guilloche and hand engravings, cm. 9.5 x 18. For fountain pe...

Beautifully gilt and hand painted Royal Crown Derby pair Imari pattern porcelain decorative urns/vases with gilt twin side handles. Each urn features an exterior 22k gold and handpai...

For your consideration a gold plated footed bowl by Stanley Roberts. Retains label from the maker underneath. Dimensions: 2.63" H x 6" diameter Delivery within 200 miles from San ...

Vintage Bohemian crystal vase from the Fipop series was crafted by Ludwig Moser & Sons Glassworks in Karlsbad, former Czechoslovakia, in 1920s. The vase features faceted cut sid...

Egg on tripod in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè, Russian Empire style inspired by Carl Fabergè eggs late 1800s, early 1900s. Measurem...

An enameled box by Louis Kuppenheim for Alfred Dunhill. This is an extraordinary and extremely rare desk box with double enameling. The box have been created in the city of Pforzhei...

French scent bottle carved in rock quartz. This is a gorgeous antique scent perfume bottle created in Paris during the French restoration period, back in 1820. This exceptional bott...

Magnificent 18th century French hand carved and gold gilded frame. An incredible detailed work. The frame looks Royal and luxurious. Dimensions of the interior painting size to fit a...

This exquisite antique vase, crafted in the 19th century by the esteemed Royal Bonn Company in Germany, is a splendid example of fine porcelain artistry. The vase features a captivat...

Murano Glass, Seguso or Barovier and Toso, w/Gold Polveri All of these maestros created triple-cased glass works of this type, so we cannot be sure which of them created this one, b...

Extremely rare Montblanc sealed Gaius Maecenas fountain pen, numbered 3374 out of a limited edition of 4810. The fountain pen, with a 18k gold nib, has a marbled lacquer barrel and t...

Schaffhausen vintage International Watch Co. (IWC), circa 1950s. 18-karat yellow gold watch with rose gold dial and applied yellow gold bar markers. ...

Made in Italy, Murano, 1930s. Between 1932 and 1933 the Milanese architect Tomaso Buzzi, a spirited protagonist of the Milan “neoclassicist” movement, a friend and associate of Gio Ponti, and a partner of Il Labirinto, established a fruitful collaboration with the Venini glassware company, which would continue, albeit episodically, in later years. The architect’s creative contribution was evident both in the glass forms and in their innovative manufacturing technique. When Buzzi arrived at the Venini company in Murano, in 1932, he brought with him a remarkable cultural baggage and a thorough knowledge of ancient art, particularly the Etruscan period...

Beautifully made large 19th century Siam standing Buddha sculpture in gilt bronze sold through the Karl Springer showroom on custom ebonized wood ...

Matched pair of a female & male guinea hen bird sculptures by Archimede Seguso. They are made of opalescent glass which has been infused with delicate 24K gold powder which creat...

Introducing a stunning early 20th-century Bavarian porcelain vase by H & Co. of Selb, Bavaria. This large, double-handled vase boasts exquisit...

Mid-19th century large Dresden gold gilt with painted scene design details porcelain decorative urn / vase. The urn / vase is in good antique condition. M...

Beautiful, high-quality late Biedermeier casket box from southern Germany, circa 1840. Mahogany and (probably walnut) burl wood veneer on oak and maple. Numerous inlays in maple and...

Russian gold cigarette case circa 1890's. Marked with 56 (14K) kokoshnik mark, and "A" for St. Petersburg. Maker's mark is either WI or IM....

Archimede Seguso Murano Glass Bowl/Vide Poche w/ Generous Gold Leaf (Seguso is attribution based on the documentation by others described below.) Very nice vintage condition; we fou...

Oval pill box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with hand-painted miniature enamelled by the painter Romano Buccioni, in Louis XVI style, second half of the 19th century. Dimen...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique French 20 karat tri-coloured gold snuff box; an addition to our 19th century collection. This exceptional antique French 20k yellow gold snuff box has an oval shaped form. The body of this antique box is embellished with panels of engine turned and tooled decoration, incorporating circular and floral motifs. Each incurved cornered panel is encompassed with applied simplified foliate festoon and column style borders, accented with tri-colored gold highlights. This impressive antique 20ct gold box...

Beautiful, classic frame gilded with gold leaf, entirely in the typical Baroque style, elegantly decorated with acanthus leaves, vines, and flowers, made of pine and plaster, circa t...

Gorgeous porcelain busts of Louise Brongniart in bisque porcelain on royal blue enameled base, by Tharaud, Limoges, after the originals by Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828). Louise was...

Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Louis Black Godron Ribbed Fountain Pen With Cartier Box, Finished With An Onyx Cabochon Manufactured by Montblanc The pen is made from a black composite Pen n...

A beautiful pair of French Art Deco period perfume glass bottles with etched design, gold gilt accent, and bronze tops, from luxury fashion Maison Carven, circa early-20th century, 1...

Beautiful antique Murano hand blown Sommerso clear white bubbles and gold flecks Italian art glass mini vase / vide poche. Documented to the Venini company, and created by master des...

Newcomb Macklin style Arts & Crafts/Mission Style giltwood picture frame - unsigned - U.S.A. - circa 1940's. Excellent vintage condition - minor gilt and gesso loss (as photograph...

Gunnar Nylund unique, "Flambe" series vase with two mermaid figures with seaweed and fish. Beautifully draw and detail figures are embellished with gold lines which are offset by a r...

Fantastic set of five decorative porcelain plates produced by Arte Morbelli, of fine Italian manufacture. Each plate can be hung as a decorative object, or you can use them as real plates. The plates are made entirely of ceramic, with designs and edges in 24 karat gold, very precious and elegant. The plates contain designs of animals symbolic of every historical era and every area of the world. They are represented: a quadruped with a back decorated with red and gold squiggles, representing Southern Russia; a donkey also decorated in gold and purple and represents the period of greatest flowering of the Persian period (500-400 BC); the Egyptian jewel...

Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown gold flecks Italian art glass Venetian gondola shaped bowl. The bowl is documented to the Barovier e Toso Company. The piece has a white lined cri...

These candlesticks are ornate artifacts from the French Empire period, which dates back to the early 19th century, typically considered as the reign of Napoleon I from 1804 to 1814. ...

Sculpture of cupid by Eutrope Bouret (1833-1906). This is a fantastic sculpture created in Paris France during the Napoleon III period, by Eutrope Bouret, back in 1860-1870. The scu...

An extraordinarily rare and visually striking 16th-century Venetian iron treasure coffer, showcasing the height of Renaissance artistry and engineering. Crafted in the early to mid-1...

Patinated Black Bronze Jardiniere on gilt bronze foliate tripod stand. The swirled jardiniere bowl contains three contrasting gilt bronze scrolled handles with cast rose and acanthus...

Beautiful, antique, early Murano hand blown Sommerso red, controlled bubbles and gold leaf Italian art glass fish sculpture on clear base. Created in the manner of designer Flavio Po...

Japanese Contemporary porcelain beckoning cat, a uniquely and intricately gilded and hand painted porcelain piece from the Kutani region of Japan. The cat raising his left paw is adorned with multiple golden medallions and is covered with raised loops characteristic of the Kutani “mori” style. While the origins of the Japanese beckoning cat are unclear, contemporary woodblock...

Charming Mid-Century Italian hand crafted box. Green interior fabric lined. This box can be used to store your favorite pieces of jewelry as well a stand alone piece on a coffee tabl...

Handcrafted on the Venetian island of Murano in the 1970s, this decorative glass bowl is a fine example of the traditional filigrana technique—where coloured canes of glass are caref...

Featuring Renascence Inspired Scenes From our collectables category, we are thrilled to introduce this outstanding French Gold and Enamel Perfume Bottle...

Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown gold flecks Italian art glass heart shaped bowl. The piece is documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier e Toso Company. The piece w...

Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso aqua blue and gold flecks Italian art glass kitty cat figurine. Documented to designer Alfredo Barbini, circa 1950-60s. I have owned seve...

Stunning decorative vanity set of 3 Murano blown glass with 24k gold. This incredibly stylish and rare set was made by Barovier in Italy during the 1950s. In fabulous conditions, wi...

Polished white bird’s-eye maple or polished walnut matte finish armored chest, 24-karat gold-plated accessories. Round handle with biometric opening device and emergency key integrat...

Une magnifique paire de vases amphores en porcelaine bleu cobalt, créés entre 1890 et 1902 selon les tampons la manufacture de porcelaine Pouyat se distingue comme l'une des usines l...

French Art Nouveau gilt bronze of a mermaid holding a shell. Possibly used as a card tr fonay. Fine detail and casting. Stamped for Louchet, Phearis foundry on the back of the base.

Hand blown Murano multicolor murrine art glass vase with gold leaf flecks. Attributed to Arte Vetraria Muranese (A.V.E.M.), Italy, 1950s. Exquisite and sculptural handblown Murano glass vase with an eye-catching 'Tutti Frutti' design different from all sides, multicolor murrine decorations and Aventurine gold flecks. This highly decorative vase shows a magnificent art glass work and it is in excellent condition. To be exhibited alone or as a part of a Murano glass collection. Lovely to be used as decorative vase or flower vase and perfect as a gift idea. Measures: 23 cm H x 20 cm W x 10 cm D // 9,05 in H x 7,87 in W x 3,93 in D A curated selection of Murano glass vases and other decorative objects is avaliable at our 1stdibs marketplace. We invite you to enjoy the whole collection. Tutti Frutti Murano Art Glass Vase // AVEM Murano Glass Vase...

Hallmarked in London in 1803 by George Longstaff, this very handsome, George III period, Antique 18ct Gold Snuff Box, features engine turned decor...

18th century Italian cross mounted on a polished pink hematite quartz heart and adorned with aurora (sunset) quartz and a natural-forming cross shaped baroque pearl. The 18th centu...