The Art of Faux Bamboo Furniture: From Chinoiserie to Maison Baguès How bamboo-inspired furniture became a distinctive feature of European interiors, from the 18th century to the elegant creations of Maison Baguès. Few decorative motifs have traveled through the history of European furniture design as gracefully as bamboo. With its slender proportions, distinctive joints, and […]
From richly veined red marble to subtle blue-gray stone, discover the remarkable varieties of marble that adorned French commodes, consoles, and elegant interiors during the 18th century. Marble: The Finishing Touch of French Furniture When we admire an 18th-century French commode, we often notice its exquisite marquetry, elegant proportions, or finely chased gilt-bronze mounts first. […]
The Grand Tour: How Travel to Italy Transformed European Furniture Design From the ancient ruins of Rome to the elegant drawing rooms of Europe, discover how the Grand Tour helped shape Neoclassical furniture and the decorative arts of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The Grand Tour: An Education in Art, Architecture, and Antiquity During […]
Look closely at a fine Biedermeier chest of drawers, a French Louis XVI commode, or an elegant Art Deco cabinet, and you may notice something they have in common: veneer. Today, the word “veneer” can sometimes suggest inexpensive furniture or a thin decorative surface hiding an inferior material underneath. In the world of antique furniture, […]
Few names in twentieth-century French lighting combine decorative craftsmanship, sculptural imagination, and unmistakable glamour quite like Maison Charles. Best known today for its extraordinary bronze lamps inspired by pineapples, lotus flowers, pinecones, corn, and other forms from nature, the Parisian house occupies a fascinating position between the traditions of the French bronzier and the creative […]
Researching Japanese Porcelain Marks and the Story Behind an Elegant Pair of Early Fukagawa Seiji Porcelain Vases One of the most rewarding aspects of dealing in antiques is that every object has a story waiting to be uncovered. Sometimes that story is immediately apparent through a signature or documented provenance. More often, however, it begins […]