20th Century Mounted Objects
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147
1,031
337
429
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345
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24
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20
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46
102
108
45
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234
48
37
22
17
16
15
13
7
6
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552
287
215
109
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636
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462
244
221
133
92
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1,031
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1,031
25
7
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Period: 20th Century
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2297'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960?s very large industrial casting foundry mould (2297)
1960?s very large industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwent Foundry on the...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
Pair of Squirrel Bookends Attributed to Jozef Peeters - Belgium 1930s
By Jozef Peeters
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of squirrel bookends attributed to Jozef Peeters - Belgium 1930s.
Category
Belgian Art Deco Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Metal
1960s Extra Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2305'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960?s Extra large industrial casting foundry mould (2305).
1960?s Extra large industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victo...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
Friends of Jane Le Soudier Bronze Very Large
Located in Madrid, ES
Jane Le Soudier's friends Bronze measures: 82X32X14 cm. Very good condition. Signed. Information about the artist: Jane Le Soudier Birth February 18, 1885 Le Mans Death 1976 Paris Nationality French Jane Le Soudier (born in Le Mans on February 18, 1885 and died in Paris in 1976) is a French sculptor, designer and pastel artist. She specialized mainly in the animal genre. Biography Jane Le Soudier obtained the drawing prize from the city of Paris at the age of fourteen, the silver medal from the city of Tréport in 1908, the gold medal from the city of Dinan in 1909. She is pupil of the landscape painter Henri Harpignies...
Category
Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Bronze
Classical Faux Marble Roundel with a Mask
Located in London, by appointment only
An extremely well-made copy of a classical mask after the antique, the face shown in high relief within a dished background and a border of Greek Key with discs to the four sides. No...
Category
Italian Classical Roman 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Resin
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2301'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960s very large industrial casting foundry mould (2301)
1960s very large industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwent Foundry on the r...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2307'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960?s Very large Industrial casting foundry mould (2307)
1960s Very large Industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwent Foundry on the ...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
Table Modern Lamp by Artist Salih Mehchi, Perfect for Christmas
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/5003 - Unusual and elegant tree shaped Table led lamp, one of the first led lamp, created by the young artist Salih Mehci, very famous in France for his incredible huge lightwe...
Category
French Other 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Steel
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – (Mould 1080.18)
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – (Mould 1080.18)
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – (Mould 1080.18). We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwe...
Category
British Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
Beaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 20th-century Belgian laboratory beaker, complete with its original metal stand, captures a moment in scientific history. The glass, shaped like a pipe, is delicately thin,...
Category
Belgian Edwardian Antique 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Glass
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2300'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960s very large industrial casting foundry mould (2300)
1960s very large industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwent Foundry on the r...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
Wood Block Sculpture
Located in East Hampton, NY
Wood block-form vessel with cylindrical plunger and cork stopper.
Category
20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Wood
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – 'Mould 1080.27'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – (Mould 1080.27)
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – (Mould 1080.27). We recently cleare...
Category
British Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960’s Set of Industrial Casting Foundry Moulds, 'Mould 1080.20'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960’s set of industrial casting foundry moulds – (Mould 1080.20)
1960’s set of industrial casting foundry moulds – (Mould 1080.20). We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of ...
Category
British Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
Table Top Sculpture by John Steck
By John Steck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
From Steck’s 'Desert Flower’ series, this tabletop sculpture exhibits, per an America House advertisement in Craft Horizons January/February 1965 (which illustrates this sculpture), ...
Category
American Mid-Century Modern Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Stone, Metal
Sculpture by Johnny Mattsson, Denmark, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sculpture by Johny Mattsson,
Denmark, 1950s.
Pine and teak.
Signed.
Measures:
H: 91 cm / 3'
W: 7.5 cm / 3"
D: 6.8 cm / 2 3/4".
Category
Danish Mid-Century Modern 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Teak, Pine
Susan Bland, "Scrapbook #1" Original Art Assemblage in Display Case, 1986
Located in Norwalk, CT
Susan Bland, American (20th century).
"Scrapbook #1" mixed media assemblage on board, 1986. Signed, titled, and dated underneath. Presented in a custom plexiglass display case...
Category
American Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Textile, Plexiglass, Paper
Glass Sculpture of a Scorpion
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fascinating glass figure of a scorpion
Signed.
Designed as a scorpion with a metal and marble stand
Measures: Height 26 in., (66.04 cm.), width 10 1/2 in., (26.67 cm.), depth 6 ...
Category
20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Panels attributed to Carlo Nason, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Panels attributed to Carlo Nason, 1960s
Category
Italian Mid-Century Modern 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Large Italian Micromosaic Floral Round Panel
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large Italian Micromosaic floral round panel
Rome, circa 1870, depicting a vase with doves and flowers against a black ground
without frame: 44 c...
Category
20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Glass
Tabletop Sculpture from USA
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A metal sculpture consisting of a thin rigid wire with folded, fortune-cookie-shape pieces of naturally patinated brass slipped onto the rod and stacked vertically. The rod is set in...
Category
American Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Brass
20th C Silver Plated Statue Representing Arguing Roman Senator, France
Located in Leuven , BE
20th C Silver plated status representing arguing Roman Senator, France.
Category
Belgian 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Metal, Silver
Painted and Carved Wooden Sculpture of a Knight Crusader, circa 1944 on Pedestal
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A carved wooden sculpture of a knight crusader from the mid-20th century painted in a silver color with brown undertone. The knight is kneeling on a later rectangular black wooden stepped pedestal, holding his sword horizontally while wielding a kite shield mounted on his forearm, emblazoned with a cross and a forked lightning. Looking determined to battle for glory, he wears a silver painted chainmail coif on his head and chest beneath a helmet framing his bony face, a cuirass above a hauberk, greaves and sabatons. The perfect recreation of a crusader’s battle armor enhanced by the silver paint and numerous details make this carved wooden sculpture of a kneeling knight...
Category
20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Wood
Venetian Necklace with Glass Flower on Silk
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Italian Venetian necklace with glass flower on a simple silk fabric. Very modern and unusual.
By Vetrofuso -
Category
Italian Other 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Pair of Continental Faux Painted Malachite Wooden Pyramids
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of continental faux painted malachite wooden pyramids.
Category
European Empire Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Terra cotta Medalion , Sculpture by the sea 1970’s
Located in PÉZENAS, FR
Wonderful terracotta medalion representing by the sea
Blue of the sea , beach And mountain
You could installed on top or on the wall
There is two cubic signature incrusteed
Category
French 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Large Antique Ceramic Wall Plaque of Military Figures
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large antique ceramic wall plaque depicting European military figures, sourced from an ex British private collection.
This unusual cera...
Category
French Victorian 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Steel
Ed Stertz Salmon Marble Table Sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An interesting stone sculpture that is mounted to a swiveling base. The marble's unique form and naturally salmon pink color make for an eye-catching decoration in any room. Please c...
Category
Mid-Century Modern 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Stone
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2310'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960’s Very large industrial casting foundry mould (2310)
1960’s Very large industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwent Foundry on the...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960s Pair of Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Moulds '2306'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960s pair of very large industrial casting foundry moulds (2306)
1960s pair of very large industrial casting foundry moulds – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwen...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2302'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould (2302)
1960s Very large industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwent Foundry on the r...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2299'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960s very large industrial casting foundry mould (2299)
1960s very large industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwent Foundry on the r...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould '2298'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960s very large industrial casting foundry mould (2298)
1960s very large industrial casting foundry mould – We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwent Foundry on the r...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – (Mould 1080.28)
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – (Mould 1080.28)
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould – (Mould 1080.28). We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of Derwe...
Category
British Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould, 'Mould 1080.25'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960’s Large industrial casting foundry mould – (Mould 1080.25)
1960’s Large industrial casting foundry mould – (Mould 1080.25). We recently cleare...
Category
British Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
1960’s Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould, 'Mould 1080.22'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960’s large industrial casting foundry mould – (Mould 1080.22)
1960’s large industrial casting foundry mould – (Mould 1080.22). We recently cleare...
Category
British Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
Patinated Metal Tendril Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sitting atop a cubic pedestal, the amorphous tendril combines a soft dimension with a pointed shape. The rust texture highlights the varied facets. The oversized base provides an int...
Category
American Modern 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Metal
Abstract Sculpture by Lucile Driskell Resembling a Greek Key
Located in Stamford, CT
A silver plated abstract sculpture by Lucile Driskell (1924-2017) signed and numbered 1/100.
Category
American Modern Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Marble, Metal
1960’s Very Large Industrial Casting Foundry Mould, 'Mould 1080.3'
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960s Very large industrial casting foundry mould (Mould 1080.3)
1960s Very large industrial casting foundry mould (Mould 1080.3). We recently cleared the Victorian warehouses of ...
Category
English Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Wood
Tinplate Football or Ice Hockey Sports Figures
Located in London, GB
A delightful and highly decorative set of six coloured tinplate sports figures. As they have a kicking action we think they are possibly English or American footballers. If anyone kn...
Category
English Art Deco Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Metal
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Chenets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis XVI style ormolu chenets,
On square support with a central bombe shaped maiden's mask, Scrolling foliage chasing, above an urn of prosperity dec...
Category
20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Table Top Sculpture by John Steck
By John Steck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
From Steck’s 'Desert Flower’ series, this tabletop sculpture exhibits, per an America House advertisement in Craft Horizons January/February 1965 (which illustrates this sculpture), ...
Category
American Mid-Century Modern Vintage 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Stone, Metal
Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamonds, Silver, and Smoky Quartz Carved Horse
By Mellerio
Located in New York, NY
Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamonds, Silver-Gilt, Rock-Crystal, Jade, Mother-Of-Pearl and Smoky Quartz, Carved Horse Sculpture, Jeweled Mounted Object.
An extremely rare and unique, one of a kind French gold, diamonds, Silver-gilt, rock-crystal, jade, obsidian, mother-of-pearl, and smoky quartz carved jeweled sculpture "CHEVAUX DE LEGENDE", "A Legendary Horse" by Mellerio, Paris, circa 1991.
Sitting on black obsidian base, the solid rock-crystal slab is finely applied with a carved smoky -quartz and jade horse with a harness mounted in 18k gold, brilliant -cut diamonds, rubies, turquoise, and amethyst chains and pendants. The top columns adorned with 18k gold and brilliant cut diamond pendants, the bottom with gold and mother of pearl plaques. The obsidian base with a plaque engraved: CHEVAUX DE LEGENDE" / N° 05 / MELLERIO DITS MELLER / PARIS / 5003 D
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 10.5" high x 8.5" 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...
Category
French 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Rock Crystal, Jade, Quartz, Gold, Silver
Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamond, Silver-Gilt, Rock-Crystal, & Lapis Horse
By Mellerio
Located in New York, NY
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...
Category
French 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Rock Crystal, Gold, Silver
Afra and Tobia Scarpa Model 'Maquette' of Aobadai House, Tokyo 'Japan' 1995
Located in Sacile, PN
Afra and Tobia Scarpa paperboard model (maquette) of Aobadai House, Tokyo 1995
Residential villa and Embassy of Brunei - Aobadai House in Tokyo (Japan)
Architectural design: Af...
Category
Italian Mid-Century Modern 20th Century Mounted Objects
Materials
Paper