Neo-Greek Cigar Cellarette, C.G. Diehl, E. Frémiet & J. Brandely, Circa 1867

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...

Exceptional pair of neo-Greek style pedestals, made in blackened pearwood, gilded galvanic bronze and glazed earthenware. The sheath-shaped shaft is decorated with rectangular plates...

Circular plant pot with a double tray united by a black tripod attributed to C-G Diehl. Charming wood marquetry. A beautiful gilded bronze adornment complete this piece. Arriving in...

Dial signed H. Houdebine, Fabricant de Bronzes, Rue de Turenne 64, Paris and clockwork signed Japy Frères & Cie – Médaille d’Honneur A very fine neo-Greek style clock set made up of...

A similar model was exposed at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition ( see picture attached) Patinated and gilded bronze gueridon with four paw feet joined by X-shaped stems, attributed to Sévin and Barbedienne. Round green marble top mounted with a bronze rim adorned with oves and pearls motif. Born in 1821 and dead in Paris in 1888, Louis-Constant Sévin was apprenticed to the parisian sculptor Marneuf. In 1839, he joined the sculptor-modelors Phénix and Joyau, as designer, and designed silver-smith’s objects for famous firms like Denière, Froment-Meurice, Morel and Duponchel. During the Revolution in 1848, C. Sévin joined Morel in London, as workshop manager and designed pieces that Morel exhibited in 1851. Back in France in 1851, C. Sévin went to Limoges and designed models for the porcelain factories of Jouhanneaud and Dubois of which many pieces were exhibited at the Universal Exhibition in 1855. From this date on, he worked for Ferdinand Barbedienne as sculptor-ornemanist until the end of his life. Sévin’s works are considerable, he designed furniture bronzes for the « hôtel de La Païva ». At the London Exhibition in 1862, he was awarded a medal « pour l’excellence artistique des meubles qu’il a dessinés et qui sont exposés par Barbedienne » : for the artistic excellence of the furniture he designed and which is exhibited by F. Barbedienne. He won a second class medal at the Union centrale des Arts décoratifs Exhibition in 1863 and was awarded a gold medal as « cooperator ». F. Barbedienne said that posterity would remember Sévin’s compositions. The most extraordinary object designed by C. Sévin for F. Barbedienne, was a Renaissance style gilded bronze monumental clock...

Measures: Height : 47 cm (18,5 in.) ; Width : 70 up to 96 cm (27,5 – 37,8 in.) ; Depth : 6 cm (2,3 in.) A rare pair of square shaped andirons, made in gilded bronze and polychrome...

Crafted by the acclaimed cabinetmaker, Charles-Guillaume Diehl (1811-1885), this tobacco (humidor) cabinet is a truly exquisite piece of antique oak furniture...

The Moderns by Gaston Diehl, a treasury of painting throughout the world. Hardcover book with dustjacket. First edition published in 1978 by Crown Publishers, Inc. of New York. Print...

This is a large Greek style repousse oval metal plaque depicting a scene of a Spartan warrior trying to defend himself against two nudes warriors from another tribe. There are two shields standing at each side of them. There are also a Spartan helmet...

Antique Japanese Buddhism book Edo period, circa 1867 Woodblack print book Book dimensions: 226 mm x 159 mm There are damages because it is an...

Heavy bronze striker/lighter with snake on martini glass or hygieia symbol for health. Marked; Siegfried DDD (30) McMXXXVII (1937) No flint included, so not making fire, sold as-is...

A wonderful heavy cast bronze, hinged/lidded box, lightly polished, and glowing. Depicting ancient relief scenes / characters of Ancient Roman or Greek...