French Collectibles and Curiosities

An antique French counter or grocer scale in ebonized hardwood and mahogany inlay with white marble top, circa 1880. The scale is made of hardwo...

Map depicting the entire earth's surface divided into two parts corresponding to the two hemispheres and showing the Arctic to Antarctic polar circle, the tropics of Cancer and Capri...

Geographical map depicting the entire earth's surface divided into two parts that correspond to the two hemispheres or globes, the map deals with the earth in general. Detailed expla...

Geographical map depicting the entire earth's surface divided into two parts that correspond to the two hemispheres divided into small climatic zones that depict the climatic trend f...

Antique French baking paddle with early reinforced iron rivets.

Issey Miyake Making Things Published by Scalo/Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Zurich/Berlin/New York, 1999. (Exhibition held in Paris between 13 October 1998 and 28 F...

French midcentury wall crucifix with four brass columns In the style Art Deco Good antique condition for its age with minor marks of use.       

Alain Ramié, Picasso: Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971, English Edition, published in 1988, by Galerie Madoura, hardbound. Good interior con...

Geographical map depicting the entire earth’s surface divided into two parts that correspond to the two hemispheres or globes, the map deals with the latitudes and longitudes, the me...

Mobilier Savoyard et Dauphinois by Lucile Olivier. Paris: Èditions Ch. Massin, 1976, French text. First edition hardcover with dust jacket. 80 pp. The book illustrates the beds, seat...

Mobilier Des Provinces Belges et Des Flanders Françaises by Lucile Olivier. Editions Charles Massin, Paris, 1977. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. 80p of great color pictures of in...

Moldings labeled "Auzoux 9 rue de l'Ecole de Médecine Paris 6e". Dimensions: Internal organs 54 x 36 Starfish 42 x 43.5.

Vintage Dominique Aurientis sea shell cuff bracelet in goldtone. It is marked 'Dominique Aurientis Paris' on a round metal tag on the backside of the piece. It dates from the 1980s a...

A dark red model truck of an antique French lorry with opening doors and removable back part, in good condition. Hand crafted in wood and hand painted. Min...

A 19th century French mahogany shelf with four demilune tiers connected by delicate turned barley twist spindles with decorative finials. Skillfu...

A wonderful Gothic period hand carved stone statue of Saint Nicholas from the Avignon area of France. The now headless Saint Nicholas holds his staff an...

Unique, practical and highly decorative seat / hall bench with quality carvings. This beautifully carved and striking stool is surrounded by a number of very well designed and execu...

Original French movie poster for Avec le Sourire / with a smile, 1936 staring Maurice Chevalier. The wonderful art work is by Jean-Adrien Mercier (1899-1995) one of Frances most res...

Crucifix in its vitrine, French, late 19th century Golden frame Good condition For shipping: 46/38/8 cm 2.4 kg.

A 19th century Louis Philippe style miniature sample commode made of solid and veneer of mahogany with French polish finish. Five dovetailed drawers ...

This is a nice selection of 20th century. Wooden candlesticks. They vary in shape and size and are Baroque inspired in style and detail. Nice patina and leftovers of polychrome give ...

Having a double trestle base and a threaded press, the surface with a raised edge and a drain spout.

A 19th century French Empire miniature commode. A well executed miniature chest made of walnut and veneer of walnut with two large drawers below a smaller top drawer and with solid walnut columns. Inscription written in ink on the back of each of the large drawers: Don D...

A large kitchen / culinary scale made in Lyon, France, circa 1880. This wonderful antique instrument was used to measure various ingredients and product...

French Regence style giltwood barometer and thermometer, surmounted with an acanthus leaf cartouche draped with flowers and swags, the dial is flanked with pillar and ribbon carvings...

This antique opalescent perfume bottle is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Europe, likely in France or Italy in circa 1890 for a Grand To...

A Black Forest aneroid barometer and thermometer from the first half of the 20th century, with foliage, bird and fox. This exquisite Black Forest barometer features a beautifully han...

SHIPPING POLICY: No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). By Charles Delagrave, Paris. On eb...

Rare neoclassical style French giltwood clock and barometer set French, 19th century Measures: Height 90cm, width 38cm, depth 12cm This du...

Fantastic engraved Cigar - Cigarette case with a Bugatti Royale. Bugatti type 41. Very nice piece of automobilia. Perfect gift for a Classic car or car mascot - hood ornament collector.

Superb oratory in oak from the Louis XIV period. The lower part forming a drop-leaf desk, has a door with its original hinges and rests on a platform. In the upper part, the pediment...

A rare set of four antique French Baroque style hand carved giltwood baton de ceremonies or processional crosses used in a village cathedral in the South of France, circa 1850s. Thes...

A French brass fabric scale from the 19th century with wooden base, signed Robert A Vienne. Created in France during the 19th century, this fabric scale, made of brass, is mounted on...

Antique portolano, nautical map of Isle De Poro engraved on a copper plate by Antoine Roux, Marseille France 1844, from his work Recueil des principaux plans des ports et de Rades de...

Antique French miniature cabinet with the best patina ever. This beautifully designed and all handcrafted French masterpiece is an absolute joy to own and look at. The stunning and ...

Stunning pastel portrait representing a young Noble woman wearing a pink silk dress and blue floral corsage. Period gold gilt wooden frame with glass. It is signed *see second image,...

Midcentury drawings depicting religious biblical events. These interesting pieces of are all titled, signed and dated. Sold with professional g...

Very well drawn piece of art signed Leonce Pelletier, dated 1932. This subtle work depicts the very well known fish market in Nice, France most likely located in or near the Cours S...

Portrait of the Duc D'Aumale transatlantic, made with a mixed technique of wash drawing and pastel, signed by A. Jeancolas November 1914. Coeval frame. Very good condition. Measures:...

Mobilier Vendeen Aunis Saintonge by Lucile Olivier. Paris: Èditions Ch. Massin. French text. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. 80 pp. The book illustrates the beds, seating, tables,...

This elegant ladies purse was handwoven in France, circa 1860. The small, antique purse is handmade using colorful Aubusson tapestry. The tapestry features two different scenes. On o...

Wonderful design, great table prop/decor. Signed on top side, Daum, then the Cross of Lorraine symbol, and Nancy and also Signed on the bottom; Daum Nancy France.

Attributed to Henry Dasson (d. 1896) Origin: French Date: circa 1885-q890 Dimension: (H) 35 1/4 in x (W) 54 in x (W) 78 in. Provenance: Acquired by Dr. J. T Nieto-Gomez from fi...

Christie's Important Mobilier et Objets d’Art, Orfèvrerie, Ceramiques Européennes, Arts d’Asie, Juin 2003. Christie's Paris, 2003. 1st Ed softcover with results. This sale also inclu...

These exquisite portrait plaques were made in the French town of Limoges, which is renowned for the fine quality of its enamel wares. The panels have been painted with oval, half-length portraits of British Tudor monarchs...

A 19th century oil painting with original silver frame. Most probably representing the big river Garonne in Toulouse, France. Garonne was famous for its intense traffic of steamboat...

French Modernist Art Deco piano and bench by Pierre-Paul Montagnac, a variant of the model used in one of the luxe apartments, the Caen, on the great French oceanliner Normandie in 1935. Created in rosewood and sycamore, and carefully and correctly restored, including the fine Erard (#127208) instrument. 56” wide x 60” deep. Documented in numerous sources, including the July 1935 issue of Art et Decoration. Pierre-Paul Montagnac (1883-1961) Born in Saint-Denis, France on 9 May 1883, Pierre-Paul Montagnac was equally talented as a fine artist and a decorative artist. He was educated in both disciplines, studying with Eugene Carriére as well as at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiére, both in Paris. His inaugural exhibition was at the 1912 Salons – and at the 1920 Salon d’Automne he received a traveling scholarship. In 1918 he began working in the firm of André Mare and from 1922 collaborated with Maurice Dufrene at La Maîtrise, the famous design studio of Galeries Lafayette. From 1921 he exhibited at the Salons of la Société des Artistes Décorateurs, Salon des Architectes Modernes, and internationally, in Barcelona and Leipzig. He designed suites on the grand French oceanliners, l’Atlantique, Normandie and Pasteur. At the 1925 Paris International Exposition his work was in a standout class. At the 1937 Exhibition he organized the pavillion of the Artistes Decorateurs and personally won a Grand Prix. For the New York Exhibition in 1938, he was a member of the international jury, organized the group of Decorators, and, as architect, organized the exhibitions of jewelry and perfumes. He became a member of the Society of Modern Architects and executed important and numerous architecture and decorating projects including the luxury apartments on the great French oceanliners l’Atlantique, Pasteur, and Normandie. Vice President and then President of the Societe des Artistes Decorateurs from 1930-1938, he was also President of the Salon d’Automne and Vice President of the Committee of the Exhibition of Arts and Embellishments of Life; member of the steering committee of C.T.I. and Artistic Property, member of the Board of Directors of the Central Union of Decorative Arts. He was also an Officer of the Legion of Honor and received the Cross of War. MONTAGNAC was the son of an engineer and he had a taste for geometry and science that predisposed him to the rigors of architectural laws. Multi-talented, he worked independently as a painter – who had paintings acquired by the French government – while also working in the related fields of architecture and decoration. His work included homes, apartments, galleries, luxury shops, banks and the aforesaid oceanliners. As a designer/decorater, Montagnac had the taste for quality, luxurious furniture, using precious woods, bronze extensions, ivory inlays, mother-of-pearl, metal and coral. He advocated for a resolutely modern style and, free of all pastiches, focused on beautiful cabinetry, the challenges of furniture design, particularly from 1940 to 1945, captured all his attention. The tireless activity of Montagnac, whose varied works are represented in official museums and residences, was also recognized from a professional and social point of view. He was a remarkable organizer, devoted to the cause of art, to the defense of the trade and his colleagues. It was Montagnac who, in 1939, with Anatole de Monzie, took the initiative to found the ENTRAIDE to Artists (which provides support to talented young French artists). MOBILIER ET DECORATION, September/October 1953 ERARD An illustrious piano manufacturer, Sebastien Erard began building superior harpsichords in Paris in the mid-1700s, produced pianos for the French Court, and received a multitude of patents, many of which are still in use in piano manufacturing. Erard pianos were marketed as the finest pianos in the world and were owned by Queen Victoria, Franz Liszt, Chopin, Verdi, Ravel, and Felix Mendelssohn among many others. They continued to enjoy international success well into the 20th century. They were known for their unique sound quality, similar to the American square grand piano...

Very rare and beautiful life-size French Siegel plaster mannequin from the 1930s. His has blue glass eyes. The arms are articulated. The hands and the head are removable. His paint...

A delightful 19th century large French Balance - or scale in copper, iron and wood used in the silk industry for weighing silk cocoons. A perfect kitchen island accent piece.

The leg of a wooden mannequin with a man's button-up shoe from the Victorian Era mounted on a metal base. The five button shoe is of finely stitched black...

Lovely putto sculpture in typical Baroque Style. This beautiful and chubby putto sculpture was probably part of a larger Church ornament/sculpture or ...

Louis XVI carved giltwood and painted mercury wheel barometer. Eight inch circular painted wood register dial with central rosette within the scale calibrated from 27-28-29 and ...

A beautiful antique knife sharpener from the 19th century, comes from France, from a mansion near to Paris. A real unique item.

Mobilier Louis XVI by Monica Burckhardt. Editions Charles Massin, Paris, 1976. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. 80p of interior full color photos of period antique furniture of the...

One of the most amazing timepieces we have ever acquired that offers far more than meets the eye, this incredible work of art blends the beauty of a painting with the mechanical complexities of both a cylinder music box and an automaton. While it is clear to see the integrated clock residing within the arched giltwood and gesso frame, when activated, this painting quite literally comes alive. As the cylinder mechanism within plays its lovely tune, every character in the farrier's shop becomes animated – from the group of farrier's toiling away at the forge and anvil forming the horseshoes, to the wagging of the charming terrier's tale. This musical automaton picture clock is attributed to Xavier Tharin of Paris who was the preeminent creator of this fantastical "moving pictures", especially this particular farrier scene. His process mixed oil painting and hand-colored lithograph images that were layered starting from the back, middle and foreground to craft the complex series of movements throughout the painting. A look inside this particular work reveals the complex mechanism (with the three gongs, pendulum and cylinder components immediately visible) which must run the timepiece, the cylinder musical component plus the multitude of moving elements in the painting...a truly incredible feat considering the technical prowess to create just one of these devices. Musical picture clocks...

Siegel Paris, small mannequin in composite material on its metal base, original wig, circa 1950-1960.

A delightful later 19th century toy horse constructed from painted metal. A charming accent piece for any living area.

Listen to soft, cheerful music in your living room with this traditional, antique music box. Crafted in Paris, France circa 1900, the tulip wood case...