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...
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...
The French clock
From the late 18th century onwards, artists rose up against classical rigidity and the cult of ideal beauty, expressing their preference...
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 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...
Edition Bronzes in 19th Century France
Edition bronzes: a social phenomenon. Small sculptures or edition bronzes are a surprising phenomenon...
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...