Wall-appliques (sconces) with a bit more than a little gilt bronze to put your best candles in. Each a little bit “different”, not the boring old kind your mother in law has. Pair of two-light wall-appliques with burnished and matt gilding, each cast with a pair of winged sphinxes and garlands of flowers. Fitted for electricity. 1850-1875. Made in Paris. Gilt-bronze. after a design by Jean-Francois Forty. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/furniture-clocks-works-of-art/a-pair-of-louis-xvi-style-gilt-bronze-two-light Pair of four-light wall-appliques. 19th c. Louis XVI. French. Gilt-bronze. After a model by Pierre Gouthière (1723-1813). Attributed to Henry Dasson (1825-1896). Maker’s marks: One light inscribed to one side “Henry Dasson 1879”. Image © 1996 – 2021 | Jan’s & Company Fine French Antiques Inc, Fair use license. via https://jansantiques.com/Lot/jac2421_2.php Pair of French Empire style figural two branch wall appliques or sconces. Vintage. Gilt bronze. Made in England. Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/lighting/sconces-wall-lights/rare-pair-of-empire-style-figural-two-branch-wall-appliques-sconces-gilt-bronze/id-f_17168302/ Gilt and patinated bronze ormolu two light wall-appliques (sconces). ca. 1770-1775. Louis XV/Louis XVI. Attributed to Jean-Louis Prieur. Image © Auction Technology Group Germany GmbH 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.lot-tissimo.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/rena/catalogue-id-renasc10000/lot-914b2400-44b9-4f60-bc6d-abc400864aec
Desk sets to make your library look a million times fancier. Ormolu and malachite, all antique. Ormolu and malachite and cabochon mounted desk set. Each piece decorated overall with engraved scrolling foliage. Encrier mounted with putti and inset with malachite and garnet cabochons, hinged writing pad inset to the cover with an oval veneered malachite panel, pen rest mounted with an oval cabochon, and a hinged letter holder with cream silk lined interior and three divided compartments. 1850-1875. French. Maker not known. Image © Christie’s 2021. Fair use license, via https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/patrick-moorhead-hidden-treasures/french-ormolu-malachite-cabochon-mounted-desk-set-70/112781 Malachite and ormolu nine piece desk set with combination tray, blotting pad, inkwell, candlestick, paper knife, vesta, stamp tray, blotter, desk tray and a seal. The tray with a decorative ropetwist border. ca. 1880. Maker not known. Image © 2008-21 Regent Antiques Limited. Fair use license. via https://www.regentantiques.com/itemDetails/07943y-Antique-Malachite-Ormolu-Mounted-9-Piece-Desk-Set-c.1880 Ormolu desk set with malachite cabochons with a pen tray, desk tidy and candlestick. 19th c. Maker not known. Image © 2021, The Antique Guild. Fair use license. via https://theantiqueguild.com.au/products/gilded-three-piece-desk-set-with-malachite-cabochons
Objets loaded down with ormolu by Eugène Cornu a silverworker who worked in Paris and who was made director of Compagnie des Marbres et Onyx d’Algérie in 1858. His pieces were exhibited in London and Paris. They all look like they weigh a ton. Maybe they come with a maid to dust them. Jardinière surrounded by cherubs. ca. 1860-1870. French. Onyx, gilt bronze, silvered bronze and champlevé enamel. Eugène Cornu, maker. Design attributed to G. Viot & Cie, Makers marks: Signed “Eug. CORNU PARIS.” Image © Jan’s and Company French Antiques, Los Angeles. Fair use license. via https://www.jansantiques.com/Lot/jac1667.html Centerpiece decorated with Japanese polychrome designs and cartouches sheltering Japanese characters. Silver bronze peacock feet perched on a tripod base in openwork gilt bronze. ca. 1870. French. Eugène Cornu, maker. Design attributed G. Viot & Cie, Paris. Image © CHRISTIE’S 2020. Fair use license. via https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/centre-de-table-en-porcelaine-et-bronze-6168712-details.aspx
French ormolu. Who else could make it this grand. Commodes. Late 19th and 20th century. After ébénistes Joseph Stöckel and Guillaume Benneman. Commode à vantaux in mahogany with ormolu and Wedgwood mounts with a marble top (detail). ca. 1900. French. François Linke, ébéniste, after the model by Joseph Stöckel and Guillaume Benneman. Marked “F Linke” with the reverse of the lockplates stamped “CT LINKE / SERRURERIE / PARIS” and “904”. Ceramic plaques impressed “Wedgwood” to the reverse. Image © CHRISTIE’S 2019. Fair use license. via https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/francois-linke-after-the-model-by-joseph-5835805-details.aspx Commode in the style of Louis XV. After Joseph Stöckel and Guillaume Benneman. (detail) 20th c. Piano black polished veneer on solid oak and pine and decorated with bronze and round paintings. Image © 1stdibs, Inc. 2019. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/storage-case-pieces/commodes-chests-of-drawers/20th-century-louis-xv-style-commode-joseph-stockel/id-f_6718933/ Gilt-bronze mounted commode à vantaux (detail). ca. 1890. Louis XVI in style, after a model By Guillaume Benneman and Joseph Stöckel. Gilt-bronze mounts stamped stamped “KAHN” to the reverse. Bronze mounts by Léon Kahn. Image © Adrian Alan Fine Art and Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.adrianalan.com/object-detail/828732/18888/leon-kahn-a-fine-louis-xvi-style-gilt?utm_source=Adrian+Alan+Newsletter&utm_campaign=e805f19404-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_11_13_11_20_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_489f6a3c53-e805f19404-240277917
A few little odds and ends in onyx and ormolu for the nooks and crannies of your next chateau. Mostly French and mostly in the style of Louis XV and XVI. But one not French and brand new. Pedestal column. 19th c. Louis XVI in style. Richly veined onyx column with an ormolu capitol with scrolls, foliate and rosettes below a stepped ormolu design. Square black Belgian marble and onyx base. French. Maker not known. Image © 1stdibs, Inc. 2019. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/building-garden/pedestals-columns/french-19th-century-louis-xvi-style-onyx-ormolu-swivel-top-pedestal-column/id-f_13885801/ Ewer. Late 19th c. in the style of Louis XVI. French. White onyx with gilded ormolu with three cherubs around, one swinging, one in thought and the other playing with a swan. Maker not known. Image © 1stdibs, Inc. 2019. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/decorative-objects/vases-vessels/vases/classical-onyx-ormolu-ewer/id-f_14568651/ Pair of obelisks. Contemporary in a Neo-Classical style. Onyx with brass ormolu. Handmade from semi-precious stones and vintage or antique parts. Jacob-Lukas Ltd, makers. Image © 2019 RUBYLUX. Fair use license. via https://www.rubylux.com/item/1596847-2016013/Pair-Neoclassical-Style-Onyx78-Ormolu-Obelisks
Ormolu sphinxes, some Egyptian Revival and others not, any of which would lend your front hall an imposing air. Probably all French. Sphinx table lamp (detail). 19th c. Brass reeded column with the sphinx in a seated position upon a circular plinth. Wired for electricity at a later date. Image © Antiques Atlas, 2019. Fair use license. via https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/egyptian_revival_ormolu_sphinx_table_lampshade/as237a864 Center table having three winged caryatids and a pietra dura marble top. Undated. Bronze mounting. Image © iCollector.com Online Auctions. Fair use license. via https://www.icollector.com/Egyptian-Revival-Center-Table_i24462303 Mantel clock garniture set, the clock surmounted with a winged Sphinx raised by two female figures in ancient Egyptian kilts (with two more as part of the garniture) flanked by columns standing on plinths raised on fluted brass toupie feet Vintage. French. Yellow Siena marble and brass. Maker not known. Image ©2019 C. Mariani Antiques, Restoration & Custom, San Francisco. Fair use license. via http://cmarianiantiques.com/item-3970/ Stunning pair of French Empire andirons or statues in the form of sphinxes. Early 19th c. Maker not known. Image © 2019 – Canonbury Antiques – Redwell Wood Farm, Herfordshine. Fair use license. via https://canonburyantiques.com/p/pair-empire-sphinx-ormolu-andirons-figurines-statues-1310667794/ Pair of chenets (firedogs), each in the form of a recumbent female-headed sphinx, raised on shaped bases decorated with masks and scrolls and terminating in claw feet. French Empire. Early 18th c. Gilded later. Image © Toovey’s 2017-2019. Fair use license. via https://www.tooveys.com/lots/330754/a-pair-of-french-empire-cast-ormolu-chenets/
Ormolu from pieces made by Parisian ébéniste Guillaume Beneman who made furniture for the king. Born in 1750, he died after 1811. Secrétaire à Abattant (upper front detail). ca. 1800-1810. French. Brass/gilded bronze. Image © Museum of the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence. Fair use license. via https://risdmuseum.org/art-design/collection/drop-front-secretary-secretaire-abattant-80106?return=%2Fart-design%2Fcollection Secrétaire à Abattant (sphinx detail). ca. 1800-1810. French. Brass/gilded bronze. Image © Museum of the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence. Fair use license. via https://risdmuseum.org/art-design/collection/drop-front-secretary-secretaire-abattant-80106?return=%2Fart-design%2Fcollection “Secrétaire Abattant” (front detail). 1787. Gilt-bronze. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Cc0 License 1.0. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beneman_Guillaume_secr%C3%A9taire_abattant_MET5.jpg “Secrétaire Abattant” (caryatid detail). 1787. Gilt-bronze. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Cc0 License 1.0. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beneman_Guillaume_secr%C3%A9taire_abattant_MET5.jpg