A Fine Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Bookcase Bibliotheque

A Monumental Louis XIV style French gilt-bronze mounted wood boulle marquetry casket box, circa 1895 Known in French as a carré de toilette, this casket has canted corners with lavi...

An Exquisite and Rare French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Inkwell, circa 1875. A truly exceptional and jewel like quality inkwell encrier, made with the finest ormolu, mounted on bloodstone. A true collectors and one of a kind piece. Revival of the ancient régime in the late 19th century was paramount to the French furniture and bronze casting firms of the Belle Epoque. Imitation in the highest regard and replication of those tastes and styles was prevalent throughout the Paris Faubourg, where the most talented bronziers and ébénistes established their workshops. The present inkwell encrier recalls the late 18th century's obsession with hardstones - a taste expounded above all by the duc d'Aumont and, subsequently Marie-Antoinette. Such hardstone-mounted pieces, reminiscent of Renaissance schatzkammer objects, enjoyed a revived popularity at the end of the 18th century through the impetus of both the marchands-mercier and, more importantly, the hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, where the duc d'Aumont himself established a workshop in 1770 specializing in the cutting and polishing of precious hardstones. This exceptional inkwell encrier, sumptuously-mounted with finely chased gilt-bronzes, incorporates a highly-prized material such as bloodstone. Sometimes called the Sunstone, the meaning of Bloodstone comes entangled in fascinating history. The Ancient Greeks held the Bloodstone as a gem with glorious powers. They referred to it as Heliotrope, which directly translates to Sunstone. It was believed to have heavenly healing powers gifted by the gods and most certainly when it came to healing all things related to the blood. Even as we move forward into the Middle Ages, the Bloodstone takes another mystical story under its wing. It was believed to be formed from Christ's blood. It was said that during the Crucifixion, a few red spots of his blood dripped...

French Ormolu and Vernis Martin Vitrine, French, late 19th or early 20th century. An exceptional quality vitrine, in the Louis XVI-style with jewel quality ormolu bronze mounts wit...

An extremely fine Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany center table, circa 1820-1830. Very finely mounted with crisp ormolu throughout, with bronze female figures, foliate scrolling, lions head...

Early 19th century French Louis XVI style Mahogany with brass mounted marble top vitrine / bookcase. This was designed to display your most prized possessions or one of a kind collec...

Standing at 58 inches in height, this small scale late nineteenth century Louis XVI style mahogany vitrine or bookcase is finished with stunning bronze banding and a red marble top with white veining. Its corners feature fluting with inset bronze filets. Its single door is finished with a bronze border and key surround and opens to reveal an interior with three adjustable shelves. The cabinet rests on Classic finial...

A rare and magnificent neoclassical mahogany three door bookcase dating to the second half of the 19th century. Resting on a large plinth, the bookcase has three large frame doors with parallel detached moldings over a metal trellis...

A Fine Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Display Cabinet With Wedgwood Porcelain Plaques. The upper section has a s...