French Decorative Art

Louis XV French Barometer by GOHIN in giltwood in an oval shape. Features carved and gilded wood with ornamentation of tools, cascading foliage and bows. Original background displays...

A French Directoire period framed painted panel from the late 18th century, with floral motifs. Born in France during the later years of the 18th century, this exquisite decorative p...

Fabulous handwritten and illuminated book page. Beautiful period piece with gorgeous faded colors and typical gilded Gothic initials, France, 15th ce...

Louis XVI period giltwood barometer, 18th Century. An 18th century carved and gilded wood barometer, Louis XVI period. h: 100cm, w: 40cm, d: 4cm

Naturaly history lithograph, 4 tropical fish - Plate 32 - P. Oudart & C. Motte. In style of Maria Sibylla Merian This is a hand-colored lithograph depicting "Four Tropical Fish" on ...

A 18th century painted boiserie panel.

Magnificent fossil, ammonite, France, Prehistoric, approximately 335 million years of existence. Height 55 cm, width 58 cm.

Set of 3 antique hand-colored bird engravings by Martinet, of Toucan, Calau, and Petit Kakatoes (French), Late 18th Century. Nicely matted and framed. Art: 10" H x 8" W; Frame: 17" ...

Pair of engravings "Caesar's Baths in Calabria" "The Temple of the Sun in Palmyra" by Jean T. Prestel (1739-1808) With original frames.

A delightful watercolour etching depicting the ruins of Carthage, remnants of the Temple of Mars. This type of engraving was mainly produced on copper and is known as an "optical vie...

This is a beautiful and playful mixed media collage by French artist Guy de Rougemont, titled “ Pelouse pertube ” signed Rougemont and dated 71 on the lower right. It’s been framed w...

Fabulous handwritten and illuminated book page. Beautiful period piece with gorgeous faded colors and typical Gothic gilded initials, France, 15th cent...

A delightful watercolour etching depicting the ruins of Carthage, remnants of the Temple of Mars. This type of engraving was mainly produced on copper and is known as an "optical vie...

A 1789 French Revolution Patriotism fighting symbol by the famous french Comtess M De La Fayette. Révolution Française: M. de la Fayette offre ses...

A fine mythological etching by the great Italian engraver Antonio Tempesta (Florence, 1555 – Rome, 5 August 1630) printed by François L'Anglois or Langlois (12 May 1589 (baptised) – 13 January 1647),also called F. L. D. Ciartres (" Francois Langlois from Chartres"). Beautiful sheet , very sharp . The dimensions below are inclusive of the frame, the print without the frame measures 27x19 cm Antonio Tempesta, also called il Tempestino (1555 – 5 August 1630), was an Italian painter and engraver, whose art acted as a point of connection between Baroque Rome and the culture of Antwerp. Much of his work depicts major battles and historical figures. He was born and trained in Florence and painted in a variety of styles, influenced to some degree by "Counter-Maniera" or Counter-Mannerism. He enrolled in the Florentine Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in 1576. He was a pupil of Santi di Tito, then of the Flemish painter Joannes Stradanus. He was part of the large team of artists working under Giorgio Vasari on the interior decoration of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. His favourite subjects were battles, cavalcades, and processions. He relocated to Rome, where he associated with artists from the Habsburg Netherlands, which may have led to his facility with landscape painting. Among his followers was Marzio di Colantonio. Tempesta and the Flemish painter Matthijs Bril were commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII to paint wide panoramas of the Procession to Transfer the Relics of St. Gregory of Nazianzus (1572) for the loggias on the third floor of the Vatican Palace. He completed frescoes in the Palazzina Gambara at the Villa Lante in Bagnaia (1578-1609). From 1579–83, Tempesta participated in the decoration of the Villa Farnese in Caprarola, notably of this villa's Scala Regia. He is also known to have collaborated on frescoes in the Villa d'Este at Tivoli and the Palazzina Gamara at Villa Lante, Bagnaia. He painted a series of turbulent and crowded battle scenes for the Medici. He also completed a series of engravings on outdoor courtly hunting scenes. Tempesta painted frescoes for the Palazzos Colonna, the Doria Pamphilj, and for the Marchese Giustiniani in his Roman palace, where Tempesta collaborated with Paul Bril, and at Bassano di Sutri. He painted a Massacre of the Innocents for the church of Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome. Tempesta is now best known as a printmaker in etching and engraving. He also left numerous etchings, among them: Plates from the Old Testament; twenty-four plates from the Life of St. Anthony; a set of 150 prints from Ovid’s Metamorphoses; 13 plates on The Labours of Hercules and four plates on respectively The ages of man; The entry of Alexander into Babylon; Diana and Actaon, and The crucifixion (1612). In 1612 he engraved a series of plates under the title "Batavorum cum Romanis Bellum" after designs of the Netherlandish artist Otto van Veen, also known as Vaenius (1556-1629) and court painter to Alessandro Farnese. Van Veen was influenced by the Italian mannerists but had developed his own style anticipating the Flemish baroque of his pupil Peter Paul Rubens. The series consists of 36 numbered engraved plates and illustrates the armed struggle between the ancient Dutch tribes and their Roman oppressors as narrated in Tacitus' Histories. Each plate bears at the bottom an engraved legend in Flemish and in Latin while a detailed explanation is printed on the otherwise blank verso. Plate I, signed 'Ant.Tempesta f. Anno 1611', shows 'Roma' and 'Batavia' in battle dress with respective scenic backgrounds, symbolizing the two nations. Fifteen other plates bear Tempesta's monogram. The plates depict heroic events, sieges, and battle scenes. This historicist work was very popular in its time. Tempesta also drew many designs for tapestries. François L’Anglois or Langlois (12 May 1589 (baptised) – 13 January 1647), also called F. L. D. Ciartres ("François Langlois from Chartres"), was a French print publisher, print seller, engraver, bookseller, art dealer, and painter. He is widely considered to have been the first important print publisher in France and to have contributed significantly to spreading awareness of contemporary artists' work throughout Europe. François L’Anglois was born in Chartres and baptised there on 12 May 1589. He visited Italy on several occasions: Rome in 1613 and 1614 and Genoa, Florence, and Rome again in 1621. On these trips he met Anthony van Dyck and Claude Vignon, who both painted his portrait. He also became acquainted with the engravers Stefano della Bella and François Collignon. It was probably around this time that he acquired the nickname of Chartres (Ciartres in Italian). In 1624–1625 he was associated with Vignon as an art dealer (paintings) and acted as a print collector for Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel, and Charles I of England...

Nice pastel portrait representing a young woman. Wonderful weathered wooden frame and its old glass, France, 18th century. Weathered, small losses.

Pair of hand colored engravings by Jacques Grasset de Sainte-Sauveur, 1797 Paris publication, 'Costumes de Different Pays', (Costumes of Different Countries). This pair depicting two...

A regence boulle marquetry ormolu-mounted bracket clock Our violin-shaped cartel is decorated with a marquetry Boulle with engraved brass decorated with windings, florets, cartridge...

Hand carved during the reign of Louis XVI, this linden wood and oak plaque was originally a boiserie panel that would have adorned the wall of a French manor...

A large Flemish 17th-18th century baroque pictorial tapestry "The Royal Garden". The large tapestry depicting an allegorical park-scene of R...

18th Century front panel of an altar. This panel is originally from the private chapel of an important house in Montelimar. With beautiful decorative stitched floral design with fl...

An antique rectangular mirror inscribed in a Pinewood, gilded frame adorned with water leaves and pearl friezes, in good condition. The mirror is consisting its original mirror glass...

A fine pair of French 18th-19th century whimsical rococo style chinoiserie oil on canvas, circle of Jean-Baptiste Pillement. (French, 1728-1808). One oil painting depicting an outdoor patio scene of a standing young mother, holding a fan, with her three young children playing with a horse-toy, a parrot and a cat, all surrounded by flowers, plants, trees, planters and flanked by a dragon fountain...

An antique rectangular mirror inscribed in a Pinewwood frame, gilded, the pediment formed by an openwork flower basket spilling sinuous gar...

Late 18th Century, an antique Louis Seize period mirror in carved wood with gilded accents and foliage motifs, consisting its original mirror glass in good condition. Created in Fran...

First used about 450-500 years ago to reflect and disperse heat from a fire, firebacks were often cast with themes specific to the homeowner. Sometimes the iron would feature a familial coat of arms, or in the case of this 17th century semis de fleur de lys fireback, decorative motifs would represent the owner. The rectangular fireback has an arched top and a thick multi-layered molding along all edges. In the center is a raised heraldic shield with multiple fleur de lys charges, arranged in a pattern known as semis. A crinkled ribbon transverses the top edge, beneath a papal mitre and crozier topped with a volute leaf, indicating that the original owner was possibly a member of the church, possibly even a bishop. The iron has developed a fascinating chalky gray patina and can still be used functionally in a traditional fireplace...

A gold, large antique French Louis XVI period barometer, signed by Torricelli in gilded wood and of oval shape with original scientific illustrations, in good condition. The detailed wall décor piece is consisting its original glass. Framed with gilt foliate trim and important pediment. Minor fading, due to age. Wear consistent with age and use, circa 1750, France. The Italian scientist Evangelista Torricelli...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of original copper plate prints dating to 1719 by Bernard De Montfauucon of Paris. Dom Bernard de Montfaucon, O.S.B. (French: [d? m?~fok?~]; 13 January 1655 – 21 December 1741) was a French Benedictine monk of the Congregation of Saint Maur. He was an astute scholar who founded the discipline of palaeography, as well as being an editor of works of the Fathers of the Church. He is regarded as one of the founders of the modern discipline of archaeology Montfaucon was born on 13 January 1655 in the Castle of Soulatgé, a small village in the southern town of Corbières, then in the ancient Province of Languedoc, now in the modern Department of Aude. Other sources claimed his birth date is in 16 January, the most accepted date. After one year he was moved to the Castle of Roquetaillade, residence of his family. When he was seven, he was sent to Limoux, to the college run by the Fathers of Christian Doctrine Montfaucon served in the French army as a volunteer and participated in the Franco-Dutch War of 1673. He was a captain of grenadiers and made two campaigns under the command of Marshall Turenne, participated in the Battle of Herbsthausen and fell ill in Saverne in Alsace. Because of his infectious illness he made a vow to Our Lady of Marceille to give one hundred livres to her sanctuary in Limoux and to become a monk, if he was able to return to his country as a result of her intervention. After the death of Montfaucon's father at the Château de Roquetaillade, in 1675 he entered the novitiate of the Benedictine monastery of Bream in Toulouse. There he learned several ancient languages: Greek, Hebrew, Chaldean, Syriac, and Coptic. In 1687 Montfaucon was called to the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and he started to work on an edition of the works of the Greek Church...

A very fine Italian 17th century oval oil on canvas "Head of Christ Crowned with Thorns" Circle of Pierre Mignard (French, 1612-1695) within...

18th Century French faience Nevers plate. 2 birds on the center with a flowers border.

A rare antique finely worked French barometer with lyre shaped crest thermometer above a large hexagonal framed barometer. The Parisian décor piece is m...

A French carved-wood panel from the 18th century. This antique wall decoration from France has a primarily rectangular shape, with raised carvi...

A pair of 18th century Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette Commemorative Pewter Plates This rare pair of 18th-century French pewter plates have been ...

La Terre Sainte, The Holy Land, Tiree Des Memoires De M.De.La Rue. Par N. de Fer. Geographe de Sa Majeste Catoliq et de Monseigneur le Dauphin. Avec Privil du Roi 1703 Detailed map of the Holy Land from Nicholas de Fer's L'Atlas Curieux ou le Monde. East is oriented at the top. MAKER Nicolas de Fer 1646-1720 The French cartographer and engraver, Nicolas de Fer, was a master at creating maps that were works of art. The maps that he published were printed during the Baroque period when the decorative arts were characterized by ornate detail. De Fer’s detailed maps and atlases were valued more for their decorative content than their geographical accuracy. Nicolas de Fer was born in 1646. His father, Antoine de Fer, owned a mapmaking firm. At the age of twelve, Nicolas was apprenticed to a Parisian engraver named Louis Spirinx. The family business was starting to decline when his father died in 1673. Nicolas de Fer’s mother, Genevieve, took over the business after the death of her husband. In 1687 the business was passed on to Nicolas and the profits increased after he took over the firm. Nicolas de Fer was a prolific cartographer who produced atlases and hundreds of single maps. He eventually became the official geographer to King Louis XIV of France and King Philip V...

The Engravings are showing The Old town of Paris and Neuilly at the beginning. the condition of the Frames is good, and the Paper is in fair condition. You can see on the paper whic...

Large Picture containing Six Different Engravings of Grouping of Birds, Histoire Naturelle, Ornithologie by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon,...

A French pair of brass repoussé single-light wall sconces from the late 18th century. This antique pair of wall decorations from France, Circa ...

Early 17th century, French hand colored equestrian engraving. After Antoine de Pluvinel (French, 1552-1620), "Henry IV, Mounted", figure 42 from "L'Instruction du Roy en l'Exercice de Monter a Cheval", c. 1625, matted and framed under UF-3 plexiglass (blocks approx. 97% of UV) , gallery label verso. Figures from this publication have sold at Christie's. Those were not hand colored. A highly detailed engraving with the French King Henry 1V the central figure. Mounted on horseback, Le Roy (the King) is watched by no less than 10 courtiers some of whom are mounted on horseback, all of which are named in the engraving. Antoine de Pluvinel (1552, Crest, Dauphine - 24 August 1620) was the first of the French riding masters, and has had great influence on modern dressage. He wrote L’Instruction du Roy en L'exercice de Monter à Cheval ("instruction of the King in the art of riding"), was tutor to King Louis XIII, and is credited with the invention of using two pillars, as well as using shoulder-in to increase suppleness. In 1594, Pluvinel founded the "Academie d'Equitation" near what is now Place des Pyramides. There, the French nobility was trained not only in horsemanship, but also in all the accomplishments (dancing, fashionable dressing, etc.) It can be said that Pluvinel's influence on the aristocracy lasted from the late 16th century to the 17th century. Richelieu, the future Prime Minister of King Louis XIII attended the Academie; so did William, Duke of Cavendish. Pluvinel's book was published posthumously by the Flemish engraver Crispijn van de Passe II and the royal valet de chambre...

Decorate a office or study with this antique wood stamp stencil block. Created in France circa 1760, the decorative floral pattern stencil was used for printing fabric and wall paper...

18th century French Baroque Old Master painting oil on leather. Old Master painting, French Baroque period 18th century oil on leather represents a lush imaginary landscape in ric...

Dutch Golf Engraving By J. Aliamet, Les Amusements De L'Hiver. Rare 18th century Dutch golf engraving by J. Aliamet depicting Dutchman playing the early form of golf on the ice near Haarlem in 1668. The engraving is taken from Adriaen van de Velde original oil painting but is printed in reverse, the Kolf engraving is entitled 'Les Amusemens De L'Hiver' (Winter Fun). A print of this engraving was published in Darwins 1920 book, A Golfers Gallery of Old Masters. The scene shows a group of four Dutch gentlemen in the foreground playing kolf, the forerunner of golf. The main player can be seen taking aim to hit the post which is next to the man standing over his right shoulder. They are eagerly watched by a young lad who has his hands in his pockets to keep warm with a Kolf club under his arms, looking as if longing to join in. Two ladies are being pushed and pulled in a wooden sledge...

5 engravings framed, 18th century period. Dimensions with frame : 59 x 24 x 1 cm Images dimensions : 8 x 14 cm.

An authentic, perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of 3 Cockatoos: Le Kakatoes a Huppe Rouge, Le Kakatoes a Huppe Jaune and Le Kakatoes a Huppe Blanche. Also 1 s...

An oil painting on canvas representing a harbor with boats, in Marseille, and attributed to the Joseph Vernet School. France 18th century. Joseph Vernet was a prominent 18th-century...

Pair of depicting 'Homme and Femme de la Frise' or 'Frisian Man and Woman', people of the Frisian Islands off the coast of the Netherlands. The first showing the man in a wonderful n...

An authentic, perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of 4 Parrots, on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenticly applied ...

This French copper bassinoire, or bed warmer, has a wooden handle and was produced in the 1700’s. Hot coals would be placed into a bassinoire’s vented receptacle, and the user would pass the device under the covers, warming the bed. Copper was the preferred metal, as it is an excellent heat conductor. The handle was almost always wooden, allowing the bassinoire to be held safely. A wood handle (approximately 26 inches in length) has been nailed into the end of a copper vessel. The container opens via a flip top that has a beaded edge and a rolled lip. The middle portion of the lid is raised and embellished with a floral wreath and lobed protuberances. The center of the wreath has a scaled mythical creature with a long, tasseled tail and curved beak. The areas between the protrusions are adorned with floral and foliate engravings as well as birds. The top is pierced with sporadically placed vent holes. European winters could be particularly brutal. Bassinoires were essential tools for keeping warm at night. Today, bassinoires are used mainly as decorative elements. Our 18th century French copper...

An authentic, perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of 6 Colibri's, on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenticly applie...

Early 16th century carved oak fragment of Gothic tracery likely from a choir screen or other decorative element from the interior of a cathedral or chapel. Very fine organic carving ...

An authentic, perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of 4 Parakeets: La Perruche de Mahe, La Perruche a gorge Tachetee, La Perruche Cornu and La Perruche couronnee...

An authentic, perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of 4 Geese on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenticly applied egg...

An authentic perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of four birds, on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenticly applied ...

We are delighted to offer for sale this exquisite circa 1750 French school chalk on paper sketch of a Architectural Capriccio. A beautiful example of the French school, the piece ...

An authentic perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of four birds, on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenticly applied ...

An authentic perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of four Ducks, on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenticly applied ...

An authentic, perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of 3 Ducks and an Avocet, on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenti...

A perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of four Ducks, on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenticly applied egg-yolk as...

An authentic, perfect and bright, originally hand-colored, illustration of four Parrots, on parchment paper (copper engraving). It has a fine shining because of the authenticly appli...