The French clock
From the late 18th century onwards, artists rebelled against classical rigidity and the cult of ideal beauty, expressing their preference for more realistic subjects, closer to their own time
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
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...)
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, Selency, Vinterior, and 1stdibs. It is
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
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
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
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 emblematic aesthetic of the Roaring Twenties, Art Deco is..
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
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
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
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?
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),