Antik France - The most beautiful antiques

Publications

The Norman wardrobe

«Dear Wardrobe» - I like to repeat these words of Chekhov's play "the Cherry Orchard", when referring to the Norman wardrobe. These wardrobes were made solely in Normandy, North-West France...

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Thistles and their symbolism

In French art and crafts, thistles are one of the oldest and most frequently represented motifs. In Russia, thistles are just a pungent herb, but in the European tradition, this evergreen and unpretentious plant has a specific meaning...

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The George Sand service

The liquor service of this kind (a small liquor jug and a few miniature glasses) has a very special name in France: the "George Sand service", in honour of French writer George Sand...

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Le Grand Dépôt Emile Bourgeois

We have several china sets of notorious brands on our site. Here, it is the brand of Emile Bourgeois, who owned a famous boutique in Paris. Emile Bourgeois' famous French-style store,

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"The banker's mirror"

"The "banker's mirror" (or, as it is also called, the "magic mirror") spread within European nobility circles in the 15th century. The creation of convex mirrors was linked to the great interest in optics, manifest at the beginning of the Renaissance period in Flanders.

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SHIVA PARIVAR

Our website presents a unique Indian sculpture in ivory with a very special intrigue full of details that require special comments...

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The half porcelain

Since the middle of the XIXth Century, dishes were made not only in pure porcelain or earthenware, but also in half porcelain or fine earthenware, hence halfway between porcelain and earthenware.
Fine earthenware is an opaque white clay paste, with a fine, dense and sonorous texture, covered with a lead glaze. It is halfway between traditional earthenware and porcelain.....

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The ring holders

In France these little ring holders made for temporarily putting rings has existed for a long time (for storing rings, there are jewelry boxes). These ring holders came in many shapes. They could be crystal or glass bowls on legs, small bronze bowls decorated with reliefs, china decorated saucers on bronze legs or small glass baskets....

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Boulle style and technique

André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732), a unique cabinetmaker, was the initiator of a famous technique: the association of bronze, brass and marquetry for the sake of art and craftsmanship. His talent also gave birth to a specific style in luxury applied arts during 4 centuries from Louis XIV to Napoleon III....

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LIQUOR CABINETS or "CELLARETTES"

From the end of the 18th century, liquor cabinets became an integral part of French society and travel, allowing dignitaries to spend long periods of time in coaches during their travels. Since then, perhaps no other luxury object has had as much success in the aristocratic circles of France as these liquor cabinets, manufactured with great taste and sophistication...

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Oil lamps

Dear visitors, please allow us to give a short explanation on oil lamps and some characteristics of their internal structure.
As you may have noticed, when these lamps are electrical, the cables are usually inserted from the upper part of the lamp. This is because original oil lamps have a complex inner structure and namely contain an oil reservoir...

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The Dagobert Chair

The “Dagobert Chair” is a type of traditional French armchair, designed from the image and drawing of the legendary bronze throne of King Dagobert I, who reigned in France during the 7th century. For many centuries, kings of France sat on this throne on the occasion of special ceremonies.

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