The Duke and Duchess of Windsor: An Exquisite Ormolu and Églomisé Bureau Plat

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...

Alexandre Chevrie, a museum quality French ormolu mounted mahogany Royal Executive "Empire" Desk, circa 1875. Double sided desk with six solid bronze lions paw feet, framed ormolu lions on both sized, jewel quality ormolu medusa heads concealing the drawer locks, and exquisite ormolu frieze designs throughout. With original red leather top. Truly the best quality desk with the most sophisticated design for this Napoleon III period. There was a similar bedroom set in this style that was made for King...

A Rare Pair of Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Two-Light Candlesticks, Resting on Jasper Bases, Circa 1790 Transport yourself to the pinnacle of historical elegance with this extraordinar...

An exquisite French Ormolu-mounted mahogany and glass vitrine cabinet, attributed to Francois Linke, circa 1880. Although unsigned, the jewel-like quality ormolu bronze mounts throughout, especially the corinthian columns, and the best mahogany and craftsmanship of the period, confirms our attribution to Francois Linke, who was almost certainly one of best furniture makers of the Belle Epoque period alongside Paul Sormani, Henry Dasson, Alexandre Chevrie...

An exquisite French Empire ormolu and cut-crystal clock, c. 1815, attributed to Baccarat. Made from the finest quality mercury gilding ormolu, this c...

A Rare and Exquisite French Ormolu Bronze and Porcelain Clock, attributed to Jean Francois Deniere, circa 1810. This large and elaborate clock is made of the finest quality ormolu and porcelain during the period. Of rectangular form, with porcelain and bronze columns painted with flowers and griffins, this clock would make a statement in any room. To a clock collector, this clock is a true masterpiece! Similar clocks like this, by Deniere, are in prestigious museums and collections worldwide, including the Frick Collection and the Royal Collection Trust. 21.5" high x 12" wide x 6" deep **For a similar clock see Christies New York, 21 November 2008, Lot # 139, sold for $50,000. Very good condition with no damages. All original parts. Clock is not running. More photos available upon request. Jean-François Deninger, called Denière, was one of the most illustrious bronziers of the first half of the 19th century. Appointed Envoy in Constantinople around 1796, the bronzier Denière entered into partnership with François Mathelin in 1797. They founded a prosperous operation and their atelier had over 200 workers during the Empire period - a number that subsequently doubled during the reign of Louis-Philippe. Fournisseur to the duchesse de Berry and Louis-Philippe, Denière also worked for the duke of Hamilton, Ferdinand VII of Spain, William II of Hesse, William II of Holland, Tsar Alexander II of Russia, and other heads of state. In 1817-1818 Denière furnished some of the bronze work for the redecoration of the White House in Washington. He furthermore produced the mounts for the cradle of the duc de Bordeaux in 1820 and the bronzes for Charles X's coronation coach...

With a rectangular top with inset black tooled leather surrounded by a brass inlaid ebonized border with brass edge. The frieze with three drawers with cast bronze handles and three ...

Of classical rectangular form, the four cabriole legs capped by ormolu female masks, with a further two masks to the sides, with three drawers and a leather writing surface

A signed piece with rectangular top with inset green leather, possibly original , over a frieze with one central drawer flanked by drawers each with round original wreath rings...

In the style of Montigny (Philippe-Claude Montigny, mai^tre in 1770), the rectangular tooled leather-lined top surrounded with a later ormolu border, above two frieze drawers and sim...

A FINE EARLY VICTORIAN PORCELAIN AND ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD BUREAU-PLAT ATTRIBUTED TO EDWARD HOLMES BALDOCK, CIRCA 1840. The top inset with its original maroon leather. The frieze ...

Antique parquetry, ormolu and leather bureau plat by Ross English, 19th Century Height 76cm, width 120cm, depth 69cm Made by the renowned English furniture maker Donald Ross, this desk is a demonstration of some of his finest work. The desk is decorated with the iconic dotted parquetry trellis, and the centre is inset with a brown leather panel. Gold, debossed detailing adorns the border of the leather panel, its soft texture providing a smooth surface on which to write. An ormolu border frames the desk table top, the four edges mounted with motifs of male bearded masks among acanthus leaves. Below are two lockable drawers, each one decorated in a similar manner to the desk table top. The pair of storage compartments are separated by a central ormolu mount cast in the form of flowing acanthus leaves and foliage garlands. Four tapering legs support the desk, each one terminating in socket castors marked ‘JC’. Ross’ masterpiece is also labelled with a brass label ‘KG 8913’. In the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is a bedside table by Donald Ross of a very similar design to the desk in Mayfair Gallery...