The Transition style (1765-1775)
The term Transition refers to the stylistic evolution which, in the second half of Louis XV's reign and the very beginning of Louis XVI's reign, is characterized by the abandonment of the curves and movement of the Romanesque style
Cylinder secretary after Riesener
The cylinder desk: an 18th-century invention. The cylinder desk is a piece of office furniture created in the mid-18th century, during the reign of Louis XV. It has drawers and compartments made of
The Empire style cylinder desk
The cylinder desk, also known as a "secretary" desk, is a piece of furniture for storage and writing which, as we will see, experienced a resurgence in popularity during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, which corresponds to the period of
The Louis XVI style (1774-1790)
After the period of experimentation with the Transition style (1765-1775), the Louis XVI style emerged in the early 1770s as the elegant expression of a return to classicism, free from the rigidity of taste
Mercier Frères Transition Style Commode
The Transition style: historical landmarks. The Transition style covers the period from 1750 to 1774 and refers to the stylistic evolution that, in the second half of the reign of Louis XV and at the very beginning of the 19th century..
Rocaille, the story of an ornament
The rocaille style, often discussed in contrast to classical antiquity, emerged in Baroque Europe and developed to the point of transforming the very structure of furniture and objects. The pieces of the
Edition Bronzes in 19th Century France
Edition bronze: a social phenomenon. Small-scale sculpture or edition bronze is a surprising phenomenon due to its scale and the variety of technological and commercial means employed
The Napoleon III style (1852-1870)
A period of decadence, the Second Empire (1852-1870) sought to impose prestige through pomp, festivities, and luxury, in contrast to the bourgeois reign of the discreet Louis-Philippe. The Napoleon III style is the
French silverware in the 19th century
From 1820 to 1890, French goldsmithing was characterized by eclecticism and a taste for the most varied styles. From the neoclassical rigor of the Empire period to the bursts of fantasy of the Romantic era and the na
Empire style ornamentation
The Empire style, a style of propaganda. At the end of the 18th century, Ancient Rome was celebrated both for its political grandeur and for what could be considered the pinnacle of its aesthetics
The fêtes galantes in the era of Louis XV
You've surely seen them before, on porcelain, canvas, or even tapestry, these charming little couples courting each other in the countryside. But who are they? Why are they sitting right there?
Mythology in 19th Century Decorative Arts
Against the white-painted wainscoting stood eight mahogany chairs. An old piano supported, beneath a barometer, a pyramidal pile of boxes and cartons. Two tapestry armchairs flanked
The Restoration style (1815-1830)
After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, power in France was taken over by the two brothers of Louis XVI: the Count of Provence, who would reign as Louis XVIII (1815-1823),
Atena and her collection of Romantic-era art
"Romantic Paris, 1815-1848": The Petit Palais's landmark exhibition. From May 22 to September 15, 2019, the Petit Palais presents "Romantic Paris," an immersive exhibition that plunges us into the atmosphere of..
An incredible acquisition: "Voyage de la Sainte Famille en Egypte" by Georges Och
Georges Och, a largely unknown figure. Georges Och was a French landscape painter, born in 1798. To this day, little is known about the life and work of this artist who moved in the circles of..
The History of Porcelain Biscuit
Attention, sweet tooths! The biscuit we're about to talk about will make your teeth ache. Whether it's a bust, a peasant woman, a prom queen, or a centerpiece, they're immaculately white, perfect for decorating your home.
Jacob Petit and Paris porcelain
In the 1830s, while Parisian decorators and porcelain manufacturers provided designs that perpetuated the neoclassical vocabulary, Jacob Petit (1796-1868) challenged tradition by proposing
Wallpaper panorama by Zuber & Cie: a view of 19th-century America - SOLD
In the history of interior design, few works are as spectacular and refined as the panoramic wallpapers from the Zuber & Cie factory. These monumental decorations, the fruits