Exotic looking ladies, mostly lying around. Georges Antoine Rochegrosse, artist. Living from 1859 to 1938, he was a French decorative and historical painter.

Flirt d’autrefois. Undated, by 1938. French. Oil on canvas. Georges Antoine Rochegrosse, painter (1859-1938). Signed G Rochegrosse on the lower left. Image © 2022 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/tableaux-dessins-sculptures-1300-1900/flirt-dautrefois

Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt. Undated, 19th c. French. Oil. Georges Antoine Rochegrosse, painter (1859-1938). Signed G Rochegrosse on the lower left. Image source: aguttes.auction.fr. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 70 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georges_Antoine_Rochegrosse_-_Sarah_Bernhardt.jpg

La Promenade de la courtisane. Undated, late 19th c. French. Oil on canvas. Image source gazette.drouot.com. Georges Antoine Rochegrosse, painter (1859-1938). In the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georges-Antoine_Rochegrosse_-_La_Promenade_de_la_courtisane.jpg

Fancy eye baths (baignore d’yeux) all in porcelain. Whether they help your eyes more than the plastic CVS kind I don’t know but for sure these are more fun to look at.

Three Sèvres eye baths (bagnoire d’yeux). A bleu céleste example with gilt dentil rim by Buteux; a blue-ground example with gilt white scrollwork and harebells; and a cobalt-blue example painted with a floral garland. Also a Chantilly example in blue and white. Second half of the 18th century. French. Makers marks: two of the Sèvres examples with blue interlaced L’s marks; one with a gilder’s mark for P. T. Buteux; the Chantilly example with a blue hunting horn mark. Image © CHRISTIE’S 2022. Fair use license. via https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/collector-english-european-furniture-ceramics-silver-works-art/three-sevres-porcelain-eye-baths-baignoire-dyeux-chantilly-eye-bath-32/146142?ldp_breadcrumb=back

Porcelain eyebath decorated with delicate and finely painted red roses amongst green and gilt flora with a spread eagle bird in flight at either end. The stem is decorated with gilt leaves and the rim and edges are in gilt. ca. 1880-1899. French. Unsigned. Image © 2022 Phisick. Fair use license. via https://phisick.com/item/19th-c-paris-porcelain-eye-bath/



Eye bath of hard-paste porcelain. Oval cup on funnel foot. Hard-paste eye bath with an oval cup on a funnel foot. Purple ground with two lobed reserves with Höroldt chinoiseries and a gilt lace ornament inside the rim. The interior with a chinoiserie framed by gilt scrolls enclosing lustre panels and laub-und bandelwerk in iron-red and purple. 1730-1735. German. Meissen Porcelain Factory, maker. Maker’s marks: Crossed swords factory mark, in underglaze blue. Image © Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2021. Fair use license. via https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O307059/eye-bath-meissen-porcelain-factory/

Living a sort of exciting life back a bit . . .maybe it looked like that, maybe it didn’t. Crowd scenes painted by Pierre-Nolasque Bergeret who lived from 1782 to 1863. Studied with Jacques-Louis David.

Découverte du Laocoon. Undated, by 1863. French. Oil on canvas. Signed PBergeret on the center right, on the pedestal. Image © 2021 Sothebys. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/the-european-art-sale-part-ii-2/decouverte-du-laocoon-the-discovery-of-the-laocoon
Saint Louis à Damiette. ca. 1819. French. Oil painting. Image source: Paris Musées. Collections of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris. Cc0 License 1.0. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre-Nolasque_Bergeret_-Saint_Louis%C3%A0_Damiette_-PDUT1793-_Mus%C3%A9e_des_Beaux-Arts_de_la_ville_de_Paris.jpg
La Morte d’Henri IV. Undated, by 1863. French. Image © 1996 RMN-Grand Palais (musée du Louvre) / René-Gabriel Ojéda. Louvre Museum. Fair use license. via https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010057789

 



Cassolettes to jazz up your New Years Eve buffet table. None of that boring IKEA stuff.

P Pair of urn form enamel cassolettes, painted on a dark blue ground with red and gilt urns trailing flowers and formal borders, with the covers reversing to sconces, hung with chains. ca. 1780. English. Image © 2021 Sothebys. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/the-collection-of-mr-and-mrs-peter-a-pfaffenroth-american-furniture-silver-and-decorative-arts/pair-of-english-enamel-cassolettes-circa-1780
A fine pair of antique English neoclassical porcelain and doré bronze mounted two handled Cassolettes. Each having a pair of ram’sPair of Neoclassical porcelain and doré bronze mounted two handled cassolettes. Each cassolette having a pair of ram’s heads terminating and connecting each handle to the body, all resting on a double tier stepped pedestal base. ca. early 1800s. English. Attributed to Mathew Boulton (1728-1809). Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/decorative-objects/vases-vessels/vases/fine-pair-of-antique-english-porcelain-ormolu-cassolettes-att-matthew-boulton/id-f_3239423/
Pair of tall ormolu mounted malachite cassolettes. Each cassolette having a large malachite bowl, supporting a fluted ormolu cover, topped with a berry finial with the berry finial detailing mirrored vertically below with a berry drop finial mounted to the base of the bowl. The bowls being held in place upon triform supports with bearded, elfin masks leading to cabriole legs that terminate in hoof feet, The center of the support with a scrolling and twisting snake, which features lifelike stippling to create the effect of scales. Both cassolettes are mounted on triform plinths of malachite and are set upon ormolu toupie feet. Late 19th c. Neoclassical. French. Maker not given. Image © 2021 Mayfair Gallery Limited. Fair use license. via https://www.mayfairgallery.com/pair-french-ormolu-mounted-malachite-cassolettes



Lapis lazuli smoking accessories. Art Deco. One cigarette box with a matching lipstick.

Gold mounted lapis lazuli cigarette case of upright form with rounded corners, the double threefold clasp centered with a ruby cabochon. ca. 1925. Art Deco. Continental. Apparently unmarked. Image © 2021 Sothebys. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/a-gentlemans-cabinet-of-curiosities-the-collection-of-the-late-naim-attallah-cbe/an-art-deco-style-carved-lapis-lazuli-cigarette
Gem-set cigarette case with a rectangular outline. Carved lapis lazuli centering on a central triangular-shaped panel formed by fluted frosted rock crystal, accented by lozenge-shaped and calibré-cut diamonds and a cabochon jadeite, the center of intricately carved lapis lazuli flowers with diamond collet pistils. The corners further accented by two sugarloaf jadeite details. Single-cut diamond pushpiece opening to reveal a compartment. Mounted in white gold. ca. 1928. French. Van Cleef and Arpels, maker. Maker’s marks: Signed Van Cleef and Arpels, Paris, no. 31057; maker’s mark for Lacloche Frères; French assay mark. Image © Christie’s 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3888165
Matching cigarette case and lipstick baton. Gold inlaid turquoise, lapis lazuli, diamonds and cut sapphires. ca. 1929. Lent by a private collection for an exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York. ID#13.2016.49. Image Cooper Hewitt Museum. Fair use license. via https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/420577147/
Cigarette holder. Tortoiseshell trumpet with a gem-set collar, lapis lazuli tip and gold detail, to an ivory stem and tortoiseshell bowl. ca. 1930. French, made in Paris by Cartier. Maker’s marks: French assay mark. Signed Cartier, Paris, maker’s mark, Number 01544.”. Image © Christie’s 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-an-ivory-tortoiseshell-gold-and-lapis-lazuli-5429620/?

Mushrooms. Maybe a few toadstools, too. Lithographic plates from M. E. Descourtilz’s 1827 “Atlas des Champignons.” Collections of the Lloyd Library and Museum. Images courtesy of the publicdomainreview.org and the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

“Champignons Comestibles.” Page 8. Collections of the Lloyd Library and Museum. Added by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. biodiversitylibrary.org. via https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/atlas-des-champignons
“Champignons Comestibles.” Page 11. Collections of the Lloyd Library and Museum. Added by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. biodiversitylibrary.org. via https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/atlas-des-champignons
“Champignons Suspects.” Page 20. Collections of the Lloyd Library and Museum. Added by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. biodiversitylibrary.org. via https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/atlas-des-champignons
“Champignons Vénéneux.” Page 32. Collections of the Lloyd Library and Museum. Added by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. biodiversitylibrary.org. via https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/atlas-des-champignons

Animals in art, painted by Nicolas II Huet (Nicolas Huet the Younger). Living from 1770 to 1830, he came from a family of artists. Huet produced a series of 246 animal drawings on vellum for the library of the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle.

A white dwarf Spitz. 1820. French. Watercolor and body color on vellum. Signed and dated “Huet 1820.” Image © Christie’s 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-nicolas-ii-huet-paris-1770-1830-a-white-6327165/?from=salesummary&intObjectID=6327165&lid=1&ldp_breadcrumb=back
“The Indian Elephant.” 1810. French. Pen and brown ink and watercolor, with touches of gouache, over traces of an underdrawing in black chalk, on vellum laid down on board. Signed and dated “huet fils 1810” at the lower right. Inscribed “L’Elephant femelle, Elephas indien, / Par huet peintre du Muséum d’histoire naturelle à Paris” on the reverse. Image © Stephen Ongpin Fine Art. Fair use license. via https://www.stephenongpin.com/object/790592/0/an-indian-elephant
“A Striated Monkey on a Branch.” 1813. French. Pen and brown ink and watercolor, over an underdrawing in black chalk, on vellum laid down on board. Signed and dated “Huet 1813″ in gold at the lower left. Inscribed ” Ouistiti, Jacchus vulgaris. G. ST. H.” in gold at the lower right center. Numbered cf. 58 and 81 on the reverse. Image © Stephen Ongpin Fine Art. Fair use license. via https://www.stephenongpin.com/object/806003/0/nicolas-ii-huet-paris-1770-paris-1828
“Study of the Giraffe given to Charlex X by the Viceroy of Egypt.” A watercolor depiction of the first giraffe ever seen in France, alongside the groom who would look after it for the next 18 years. 1827. French. Watercolor. Image source; ebay.com. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nicolas_Huet03.jpg

Ladies dressed in white, painted by French artist Claude-Marie-Paul Dubufe. Living from 1790 to 1864, he studied under David.

Portrait of Louise Marie d’Orléans, the first Queen of the Belgians. 1830s. French. Oil painting. Royal Collection of Belgium. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louise_Marie_d%27Orl%C3%A9ans.jpg
“Les Regrets.” 1827. French. Oil on canvas. Signed “Dubufe” on the lower right. Collections of the Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, California. In the public domain in the United States because the artist died over 100 years ago. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Les_Regrets_(1827)par_Claude-Marie_Dubufe(A).jpg
“The Surprise.” Before 1827. Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1828. French. Oil on canvas. Collections of the National Gallery. Cc0 License 4.0. via https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-marie-dubufe-the-surprise

Pochoir prints from the 1929 work “Dessins. 20 Planches en Couleurs.” Published by A. Calavas in Paris, it consists of a portfolio with loose prints by various artists.

Plate XV. Alexandra Bitchkova, ( (Alexandra Koltsova-Bychkova)) artist. Image © Shapiro Auctions. Fair use license. via https://www.shapiroauctions.com/auctions/international-fine-decorative-art-auction-2016-03-12/275-dessins-20-planches-en-couleurs-pochoir-plates-1929/
Plate X. Serge Gladky, artist. Image © Shapiro Auctions. Fair use license. via https://www.shapiroauctions.com/auctions/international-fine-decorative-art-auction-2016-03-12/275-dessins-20-planches-en-couleurs-pochoir-plates-1929/
Plate IV> Henry Valensi, artist. Image © Shapiro Auctions. Fair use license. via https://www.shapiroauctions.com/auctions/international-fine-decorative-art-auction-2016-03-12/275-dessins-20-planches-en-couleurs-pochoir-plates-1929/

Spring series public (free) post for Sunday, June 9th, 2019. Five more gorgeous plates from Albert Racinet’s “L’Ornement Polychrome” (1869-1873).

Two more posts from this series and then my summer series begins.

And several images, not just this one. Should you be interested in and can support my work please check out what is available at the various levels and what not. Thanks! Sarah.

"Etrusque." Plate 95.
“Etrusque.” Plate 95. Durin, lithographer. Firmin Didot and Company, Paris, printer. Scanned by rawpixel from an 1888 edition. Cc0 License 4.0. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_from_L%E2%80%99ornement_Polychrome_by_Albert_Racinet_from_rawpixel%E2%80%99s_own_original_1888_publication_00095.jpg