Art Nouveau: The pinnacle of decorative arts (1890-1914)
The Birth of Art Nouveau: The desire to create a new art, understood as a new artistic form, appeared very early, at the end of the 18th century, and preoccupied many theorists and..
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
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
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..
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 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?
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
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 new generation Antiques Gallery
A little history... The Atena Gallery was born in the Louvre des Antiquaires, a stone's throw from the Louvre Museum, where Frédéric and Nidal Sioufi opened their first gallery in 2001. This exceptional location..
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..
Restoring a neoclassical salon: the art of reviving history, at the Château de Peyraud
“There’s something magical about restoring a castle; it’s like going back in time, room by room, to restore a space to its original splendor. At Château de Peyraud, we have…”
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