French Collectibles and Curiosities

Vintage Radior motorcycle Post War, French. In original condition with Nervor Type C Engine. Sold as is, for decorative purposes or restoration interested enthusiasts.     

A ceramic ashtray by Hermes, made in France in the latter half of the 20th century. These ashtrays have always been very collectable with the vintage models in particular. This one h...

Antique 17th Century French painted porcelain wall hanging plaque portraying the Madonna in prayer against a radiant sunburst backdrop. Intricately painted with foliate patterns ador...

Good size, finest quality and superb condition antique wall crucifix. This antique work of religious art consists of a top quality carved, oakwooden cross and a superbly hand-crafted bronze corpus of Christ with a beautiful patina. The rare wooden cross comes with superbly hand carved 'fleur de lis' symbols on all ends which makes us believe that this ecclesiastical antique in the Renaissance Style originates from France. This bronze sculpture of Christ clearly depicts Jesus just shortly after the suffering has ended and His body could no longer hold on to life. People think of different things when looking at Christ who died on the cross, but no matter what you think of most, this antique crucifix...

At the height of her fame, Brigitte Bardot is every inch the devastating screen siren on Georges Allard's sumptuous and sought after poster for the country of origin release of Jean-Luc Godard's masterful New Wave drama 'Le Mépris...

Classic Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Cigarette Lighter Serviced With A Red Cartier Box Serviced Fully Serviced working makes for an ideal gift.

French 19th century Beauvais tobacco stoneware A collection of six stoneware pots, early 19th Century, raised decoration with salt glaze finish and pewter (hinged) lids. Three toba...

This stunning early 20th century Continental 18K gold lapel pin is beautiful & is artistically crafted with a stylish clover motif suitable for eit...

Binoculars opera glasses with leather case.

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...

French early 20th century "Encyclopedie Universelle" dated 1908.

This fine, antique mantel clock is constructed in ebonised wood by the renowned Parisian maker of automata, Xavier Tharin (French, active mid 19th Century). The clock face is set onto a curled, stylized pediment atop the clock case. The face is of white enamel, featuring black Roman numerals and signed 'Tharin a Paris', and is bordered in beaded ormolu. The pediment in which the face is set is decorated with ormolu mounts of stylized acanthus leaf form. The pediment is set onto a rectangular frame of ebonised wood, inside which is set a musical automaton...

Art of Ancient Egypt by Kazimierz Michalowski. Hardcover book with dustjacket. Published by Harry N. Abrams Inc., of New York. Printed in France, bound in the Netherlands. 904 illust...

Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...

This large, gilt bronze wall clock is a magnificent and highly unusual piece. At the centre of the design is a circular enamel dial, with Arabic...

Two seats aircraft Forain Art Collector's item, metal and painted wood. Year 1930. Exceptional and unique piece. Available now.

A Rare and Exquisite French Silver and Enameled Two-Compartment Chalice Cup by Jules Wièse for François-Désiré Froment-Meurice, circa 1850 This exceptional 19th-century chalice cup,...

Paris Secret et Insolite (Secret and Unusual Paris), French book by Rodolphe Trouilleux. Under the cobblestones, surprises: forgotten dead-ends, a cloister converted into workshops, a real-fake medieval house, the slabs of the guillotine, a 17th-century metro, a mineral water fountain, a tiny house, a miraculous Vespasian, a chapel in spare parts, Russian isbas, hidden gardens, revolutionary inscriptions, a forgotten cannonball, a working-class town in the upscale neighborhoods, a fashionable ox, abandoned convents, a washhouse facade, a bastion on the fortifications, an itinerant chapel, a pierced castle, sleeping villas, a lemon tree in a telephone booth, that's Paris! The French capital has not finished revealing its mysteries: a Palladian villa, a 15th-century tower, an acclimatization square, rats nibbling on a facade, an old Protestant cemetery, a medieval sign...

Earth Globe Paluzie Wood And Plaster, circa 1940 By unknown manufacturer from France In original condition with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving a beautiful patina.

A 19th century Century French Louis Philippe style miniature armoire or sample cabinet, hand-crafted of solid walnut with a mirrored door and dovetailed drawer. Interior has one adjustable shelf (replaced). Working lock and key. Chestnut as a secondary wood. Mirrored door with drawer below. All original and well constructed. May be used as a kitchen wall cabinet...

A fine pair of French enamel, brass and mother of pearl opera glasses, pink enamelled and jewelled barrels, with mother of pearl caps. Go...

This children's tricycle has seen its best days a long time ago, however, it has retained all its charm and magic. The face, the handles and the wheels are made out of rusty metal. T...

Conceived by Andy Warhol and young filmmaker Paul Morrissey while Warhol was recovering from gunshot wounds, 'Flesh' was the first of Warhol's experimental and avant-garde films to b...

Les Ébénistes du XVIII Siècle Français (18th-Century French Cabinet Makers.) Paris: Hachette, 1963. First edition hardcover with no dust jacket. French text. 341 pp. A thorough histo...

A silvered Venetian goldola, a handsome smiling gondolier, a beautiful couple embarking on a romantic voyage, a fabulous French Art Deco period lamp by Pierre Sega. Circa 1920 Silv...

Vintage metal and glass traditional Catalan soda syphon. By unknown manufacturer, made in circa 1990. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preser...

A carved standing figure of King Tutankamun wearing the royal headdress topped by the double uraeus. This compelling carving depicts the slender boy king standing with arms crossed h...

Add rustic French charm to your space with this antique iron wall bell, crafted in France circa 1880. The decorative bracket features ornate scrollwork and floral detailing, supporti...

Tobacco table set in metal composed of a lighter and an ashtray made by the French designer Pierre Cardin, Paris, 1970s. On both items the designer's signature is engraved and visi...

Vintage ceramic egg figure from Atelier Madoura, Vallauris, France (circa 1960s). This egg-sized ceramic figure is painted with a stylized suited man w...

An amusement French table lighter. This is a very unusual amusement lighter created in France during the mid-century and modernist periods, between the 1950 and 1960. The beautiful ...

Vintage pinball game from Nice, France. Edited by Alben. Complete with original instructions and technical sheet.

A French Louis Philippe style miniature commode, or sample chest made of beautiful book matched veneer of walnut. Four dovetailed drawers with blue velvet lined interior. Original br...

Antique 19th Century French gold mounted on mother of pearl, extensive traveling etui set, of elongated octagonal form, the gold mounted with polished mother of pearl panels and the lid applied with cast and enamelled floral decoration, the lid opens with a push-button. Inside enclosing the original gold and steel implements:, scissors, pen knife...

having (when opened) a bow shaped top with a lower book support, the arches at bottom becoming legs, when closed folds flat

Unique and stunning French Art Deco three-door miniature armoire with mirror, brass handles, and hand-carved floral ornaments. Two removable shelves. Most probably it was a prototype of a large Art...

Walking stick: silver knob milord shape handle, depicting six soldiers, representing six European states involved in the First World War conflict. Ebony m...

A refined and elegant pair of late 19th century French opera glasses, crafted by the esteemed maker Lefils Paris. Exquisitely detailed in bronze doré and inlaid with glowing mother o...

This is a nice vintage pair of c. 1970s A. A. Sutain - France model 147 oversized tortoise wrap with bronze lenses sunglasses Always ahead of their time, A. A. Sutain is famous for ...

Original French film poster from (1954) This is a classic American crime drama it received 12 Academy Award nominations, winning eight, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Marlon...

Art Nouveau walking stick: gilded silver knob in the shape of a milord depicting flowers in relief with cabochon opal stones and diamont-cut yellow sapphires. Ebony wood shaft. Metal...

Vintage Cartier goldstone and silver lighter. A most handsomely chic objet by Cartier from the Forties. Carved goldstone with smooth varied patterning in cylindrical form with silve...

The Decadence of Early Haute Couture released by the hands of Elsa Schiaparelli. Early 1930’s -1940’s House of Schiaparelli Studio in France. A Parure Set with Matching Necklace, Br...

French prayer kneeler (prie-dieu), 19thc., of carved marquetry case, having hinge top opening to velvet lined interior, over two drawers, all abo...

Double fassamano eyeglasses (from the French face-en-main), made with a double articulated eyewear, one with lenses and one without, mounted on the upper part, signed Lugene, made of...

Le moyen de parvenir; oeuvre contenant la raison de tout ce qui a esté, est & sera : avec démonstrations certaines et nécessaires, selon la rencontre des effects de vertu . n.d. (ci...

A late 19th century engraving, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and cherubs "Christ aux Anges". Engraved on a copper panel, silver plated. After Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641)...

MONET Hardcover Book, by R. Gordon & A. Forge 1983, NY Hardcover book of MONET. By Andrew Forge and Robert Gordon. Published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc, publ...

Art Deco Style 14K White Gold Bracelet with Rubies and Diamonds This stunning Art Deco style bracelet is finely crafted in 14K white gold and showcases the era’s signature elegance...

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...

Toulouse-Lautrec, French book by Gerard Dorozoi, 1992. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 - 1901) is almost unique among artists because he became as famous for his appearance and perso...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique French 18 karat yellow gold thimble; an addition to our diverse range of collectable antiques. This exceptional antique French 18 karat...

Art Decò walking stick: jewel cane, cylindrical knob in rock crystal, band made of 18Kt gold, fretwork, 4 squares of two sizes, which allow you ...

A collection of twelve stories by Mark Twain, translated into French and amusingly illustrated in color by Jean Trubert (1909 – 1983) a well known and prolific comic strip designer a...

Decorate a living room with this elegant antique pedal harp. Crafted in France circa 1780, the single action musical instrument features 36 recently repl...

This enriched, Extra Illustrated, exquisitely-bound copy of Marcelle Tinayre’s La Maison du péché, illustrated by Henri Jordan, is further enhanced by its esteemed provenance. It will make a distinctive addition to the library of a discerning collector. Marcelle Tinayre, La Maison du péché. Paris: Société du Livre d’Art. Imprimerie Nationale, 1909. Limited Edition. 4to, 10 1/2 x 7 3/4 in. ( 266 x 197 mm); pp. [6], iv, 355, ii, [6]; 67 colored etchings by Henri Jourdain...

Cigar case, 19th century, finely carved from a single piece of wood Aged patina 14 x 7cm

Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...

Hand coloured early 19th century map by Giraldon of France titled "Etats Unis et Grandes Antilles" (United States and Greater Antilles).

A refined set, bound by Bayntun Riviere, with 108 hand-colored plates. Breton de La Martinière, Jean Baptiste Joseph (1777-1852) "La Chine en Miniature & Coup d'Oeil sur la Chine; ...