Atena Gallery

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Edition Bronzes in 19th Century France

Edition bronzes: a social phenomenon. Small sculptures or edition bronzes are a surprising phenomenon...
Animal sculpture and decorative arts in the 19th century

A popular genre: The Romantic movement, in addition to its decisive influence on sculpture, particularly on portraiture and the treatment of certain types of subjects, fostered the emergence...
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 chiseled bronze decoration...
An exceptional set of Empire-style mahogany furniture

A set of Empire-style furniture in mahogany and mahogany veneer, decorated with chased and gilded bronze mounts. It includes a large dining table, 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 rigor of neoclassicism...
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 the...
Rocaille, the story of an ornament

The rocaille style, often mentioned in contrast to classical ornamentation, appeared in Baroque Europe and developed until...
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...
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 exhibition...
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 16th century onwards...
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...
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...
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 polished metal, copper...
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...
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...
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…
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 shall see, experienced a resurgence in popularity during Napoleon's reign...
The Restoration style (1815-1830)

After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, power in France was taken over by Louis XVI's two brothers: the Count of Provence, who ruled...
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...
Art Deco, the modernity of the Roaring Twenties

Who hasn't dreamed of having a drink in a sublime Art Deco setting, as if they were living in The Great Gatsby? Often considered the epitome of aesthetics...
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 is...
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 style can be found...