Atena Gallery

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Animal sculpture and decorative arts in the 19th century

A popular genre. The Romantic movement, in addition to its decisive influence on sculpture regarding portraiture and the treatment of certain types of subjects, fostered the emergence of a particular genre:
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
A mahogany and gilt bronze living room set in the "Return from Egypt" style

A living room set in the "Egyptian Revival" style, comprising a sofa, two chairs, two armchairs, and a pedestal table with a mahogany frame and gilt bronze decoration. The sofa and the pair of armchairs..
An exceptional set of Empire-style mahogany furniture

A set of Empire-style furniture in mahogany and mahogany veneer with chased and gilt bronze mounts. It includes a large dining table, a set of 12 gondola-back chairs, and a
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
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
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
Tips for furnishing an Empire-style living room in a castle, mansion, or luxury apartment

For over 25 years, Galerie Atena has been helping its clients decorate their interiors: castles, manor houses, beautiful homes, luxury apartments… with unique pieces, carefully restored in their original state
The Louis XV style (1730-1760)

The peaceful and prosperous reign of Louis XV (1715-1774) allowed for a prodigious development of the arts, literature, and sciences. The construction of new palaces, the flourishing of painting, and the
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..
The mirror, an iconic decorative object

The history of the first mirrors dates back to around 6000 BC. The oldest examples are made of polished stone, then later of polished metal, copper or bronze
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
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..
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 "boat" bed, a star of the Empire era

The "boat" bed, a French invention. In France, the "boat" bed was produced during the Directory (1795-1799) and was very fashionable during the Empire and the Restoration. Its name comes from its shape..
Silverware in the 19th century

The housewife, an 18th-century invention. The practice of placing cutlery on the table, around each plate, became widespread from the 17th century onwards, and especially in the 18th century. The grand sewers
Large Empire-style boat bed

What is an Empire-style boat bed? The Empire-style boat bed, also called a "Napoleonic bed," is a style of bed that was very popular during the reign of Napoleon I
Lighting fixtures in 19th-century France

19TH-CENTURY CHANDELIERS A chandelier is a piece of furniture designed to capture light and enhance the brightness of an interior. It can already be found in the Middle Ages, made of wood and equipped with candles. (Apart from...)
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
The Empire style (1804-1815)

The Empire style developed under the impetus of Emperor Napoleon I (1769-1821), who reigned from 1804 to 1815. The first stirrings of the Empire style can be found as early as the Directory (1795-1799), but
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),