This model of living room armchair with concave backrest has a wide band with an openwork decoration with crosses patterns centred on a floweret and frogs inscribed in a square. Its particularity lies in its offset armrests whose upper ends seem to join the ends of the headband without touching it. The arms are not placed in alignment with the backrest but tangent to it and pegged to the upright at the meeting point. This particularly fragile – and elegant – assembly explains why few models have remained in such good condition.
Ebony Cabinet
This formal cabinet is made of two independent yet complementary parts: a box that fits into a cabinet holder with feet.
The cabinet holder consists of a crotch-frame, support-height table with two drawers with enclosure. The latter is embellished with a large frieze carved with arabesque motifs. This type of carved and pierced ornamentation is also common – if not characteristic – of furniture crafted on the Coromandel coast. Golden brass rosettes mark the centre of these windings.
The drawers with drop handles in chiselled and gilded brass can be locked. They feature motifs of Hindu mythological figures, half bird (Hamsa) half lion (Yali), inspired by the fantastic bestiary of South India which gained interest again under the Nayak dynasties in Tamil Nadu in the 17th century.
Greek-style wall mirror
(Photographie © Jacques Kuyten) Carved and gilded wood in two tones of gold and silver plating Original mercury mirror France, Provence, Louis XVI period, circa 1770-1780 Dimensions: H.:…… Read more “Greek-style wall mirror”
Greek-style wall lights
(Photographie © Jacques Kuyten) Pair of Greek-style wall lights with two sconces Carved and gilded wood, gilded metal France, Transition Louis XV-Louis XVI period, around 1765-1770 Dimensions: H.:…… Read more “Greek-style wall lights”
Armchairs à la reine
Pair of armchairs à la reine, Moulded and sculpted beech, lacquered in ivory Paris, Louis XVI period, circa 1780 Credited to Jean-Baptiste Boulard (1725-1789) Dimensions : H…… Read more “Armchairs à la reine”
Bust of Napoleon
(Picture © Nicolas Megnier–Perbet) Antique bust of Napoleon I Italy, Tuscany, Empire period Dimensions: H.: 35,5 cm x base: 11,5 cm © Nicolas Megnier–Perbet © Nicolas Megnier–Perbet Please…… Read more “Bust of Napoleon”
Portrait of Antonio Canova
The sculptor is shown standing, perhaps in his study, head turned three-quarters to the left. He is dressed in a fashionable black jacket that reveals a white shirt with a gathered frill and a casually unbuttoned waistcoat. He’s also wearing an orange Garat-style tie – vaporous, loose ends with bronze green and white stripes.
Antinous
(Picture © Jacques Kuyten) Antinous Bronze with brown patina Italy, early 19th century Dimensions: H.: 66 cm © Jacques Kuyten Please feel free to consult the French article…… Read more “Antinous”
Supposed Seneca bust
This bronze bust resting on a yellow marble pedestal represents the supposed portrait of philosopher Seneca: an elderly man with a bushy beard and moustache, wrinkles on his forehead, crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, protruding cheekbones and emaciated cheeks, parted mouth, marked corners of the lips, messy hair with long shaggy locks. The head slightly turned to the right emphasizes the vitality of the gaze that intensely stares at the viewer. The folds of the neck and the hollow of the collarbones reinforce the realistic rendering of this portrait of a suffering man.
Crouching Venus
(Photographie © Jacques Kuyten) Crouching Venus Bronze with brown patina Italy, early 19th century Dimensions: H.: 37 cm © Jacques Kuyten © Jacques Kuyten Please feel free to…… Read more “Crouching Venus”
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