The French clock
From the late 18th century onwards, artists rose up against classical rigidity and the cult of ideal beauty, expressing their preference...
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...
1stdibs and Galerie Atena: a beautiful collaboration
Atena on online antique sales platforms: Galerie Atena benefits from a strong online presence, with virtual shops on Proantic, S...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Travelogue about Japanese Arts and Crafts
We've just returned from a long trip to Japan, a country where we lived almost 30 years ago—an eternity! We had to go back to the place where we met. Where it all began, where our...
Rocaille, the story of an ornament
The rocaille style, often mentioned in contrast to classical ornamentation, appeared in Baroque Europe and developed until...
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...
Wallpaper panorama by Zuber & Cie: a view of 19th-century America - SOLD
In the history of interior decoration, few works are as spectacular and refined as the panoramic wallpapers from the Zuber & ... factory.
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...
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...