Vintage Modern Design

This exceptional set of eight French Louis XVI chairs by Maison Jansen represents the pinnacle of Parisian decorative arts and timeless French elegance. Crafted in the refined Louis ...

This exceptional 1920s French bronze cartel clock by Eugène Baguès is a masterful expression of Parisian decorative arts, combining the thea...

This refined French Louis XV ebonized console table is a distinguished example of classic French craftsmanship, produced by the celebrated Bodart Furniture Company, a firm long respe...

This exceptional French bronze-mounted vitrine cabinet, crowned with a richly veined (often referred to as Brèche de Violette) marble top, is a striking example of refined European ...

This extraordinary late 19th-century French patinated and gilt bronze centerpiece in the Napoleonic style, by Auguste Maximilien Delafontaine, is a tour-de-force of sculptural bronze...

NOTE: NOT WIRED BUT I HAD TO CHOOSE ONE TO LIST This impressive late 19th-century French life-size torchère, executed in patinated and gilt bronze and mounted on a carved stone base...

This exceptional late 19th-century French dessert table, attributed to Paul Sormani, is a superb example of Parisian luxury furniture, combining refined Louis XV–inspired form with e...

This exceptional French Louis XVI–style console table by Henry Dasson is a masterwork of late 19th-century Parisian luxury furniture, combining architectural elegance, scholarly hist...

This exquisite three-piece French bronze and marble clock garniture by Lemerle-Charpentierwith a movement by Samuel Marti and is a superb example of late 19th-century Parisian decorative arts, combining fine sculpture, architectural marble, and precision horology into a unified and highly ornamental ensemble. Comprising a central mantel clock flanked by a matching pair of figural candelabra, the set was designed as a complete decorative statement for a grand salon, mantelpiece, or formal interior. The central clock is mounted in luminous white marble, richly accented with finely chased gilt bronze mounts. Atop the case stands a beautifully modeled putto figure in dark patinated bronze, animated and expressive, holding a torch aloft—an allegorical symbol of enlightenment, time, and knowledge. The contrast between the dark bronze figure, warm gilded details, and cool marble ground creates depth and visual drama. The circular enamel dial with Roman numerals is elegantly framed, underscoring the refined balance between function and ornament. Flanking the clock are a matching pair of bronze figural candelabra, each centered by a sculptural putto standing on a marble base. The figures support scrolling, gilt bronze candle arms terminating in classical bobeches, creating graceful upward movement and symmetry. The sculptural modeling of the figures—soft anatomy, expressive faces, and dynamic poses—demonstrates the high artistic standards expected of Parisian luxury objects during this period. Lemerle-Charpentier: Parisian Masters of Decorative Clocks The set bears the name of Lemerle-Charpentier, a respected Parisian firm active in the second half of the 19th century. Lemerle-Charpentier was renowned not only as a clockmaker, but as a collaborator with elite bronze casters, sculptors, and marble workshops, producing clocks and garnitures that rivaled the finest decorative arts of the era. Their pieces were often signed on the dial or movement, signaling quality, reliability, and fashionable taste. The firm specialized in luxurious mantel clocks, figural garnitures, and exhibition-quality pieces, many of which were exported internationally to decorate aristocratic homes and refined interiors. Lemerle-Charpentier clocks frequently feature award-winning movements paired with elaborate bronze sculpture, making them especially desirable to collectors today. Decorative and Collectible Significance Three-piece clock sets of this caliber were designed to convey status, refinement, and artistic literacy. Today, original Lemerle-Charpentier garnitures are prized for their sculptural quality, historical integrity, and decorative impact. Elegant, cohesive, and richly detailed, this Lemerle-Charpentier bronze and marble clock set is a timeless centerpiece—equally compelling as a functional timepiece and as a work of French sculptural art.Samuel Marti et Cie was one of the most important and respected French clock movement...

This elegant bronze statue of Diane de Gabies (Diana of Gabii) is a refined French cast produced by the renowned foundry Susse Frères, celebrated for translating classical masterpiec...

This striking pair of 1920s French bronze ram’s head wall sconces exemplifies the sculptural richness and classical symbolism that define high-quality French decorative arts of the early 20th century. Expertly cast in solid bronze and finished in a warm, luminous gilt, these sconces are conceived as both architectural lighting and ornamental sculpture, designed to command attention even when unlit. Each sconce is centered by a boldly modeled ram’s head motif, a powerful symbol in classical and neoclassical design representing strength, authority, vitality, and sacrifice. The rams’ features are deeply articulated, with pronounced curling horns, expressive facial detailing, and crisp surface chasing that reflects the hand-finished quality of the bronze. From the central mount extend elegantly scrolling arms terminating in three candle-style light holders per sconce, creating a dramatic, symmetrical lighting composition ideal for flanking a mantel, doorway, or grand mirror. The arms are richly decorated with acanthus leaves, scrolling volutes, and fluted bobeches, all meticulously detailed to create depth and shadow. The vertical backplates are architecturally proportioned, grounding the design while allowing the sculptural elements to project outward with theatrical presence. The original gilt surface exhibits a beautiful patina, enhancing the sculptural contours and lending the pieces an authentic sense of age and refinement. Stylistically, these sconces reflect the Louis XVI and Neoclassical revival movements that were highly fashionable in France during the 1920s, a period when historic French motifs were reinterpreted with exceptional craftsmanship for luxury interiors. Such pieces were often commissioned for hôtels particuliers, Parisian apartments, and grand townhouses, where lighting served as both functional necessity and artistic statement. Perfect for use in a formal living room, dining room, library, or entry hall, this rare pair of French bronze ram’s head sconces...

This exceptional French demi-lune commode attributed to Paul Sormani represents the highest tier of late 19th-century Parisian ébénisterie, distinguished not only by its refined neoc...