French Collectibles and Curiosities

Swis music box with original tune sheet, cylinder, comb and the brass bed plate, within a rosewood case, the lid inlaid with boxwood lines and a central motif. Dimensions Height 8 ...

This colorful marble and brass cross with holy water recipient was created in France, circa 1880. The antique cross features beautiful, intricate cloisonné work with enamel, stone an...

Architectural models as these were made by apprentices or master craftsman to apply for a title by their respective guild. In France these craftsmen were known as the 'Compagnons du ...

Chess set in natural mahogany and cassia - Handles in saddle-stitched H-shaped bull calf leather - Pieces in solid natural mahogany and cassia, weighted with stainless steel and eng...

This cast iron scale was made in France, circa 1900. A ubiquitous classic in the home or the market, scales of these dimensions were commonly used to weig...

A fine antique 18th century French map of North America. By Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. On laid paper with polychrome highlights. Depicting Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay, and the nearb...

Katie Larmour Studio is the original vintage scarf pillow maker. Gaining notability for her unique idea and creations back in 2013 - featured in the likes of the Financial Times, and first selling here on 1stdibs in 2016 - our creations are of the absolute top most quality, craftsmanship and finesse. Thank-you for looking. Title: Vintage French Cartier Panther Bracelet...

Rare Automaton Whistler by Henry Phalibois, with papier-mache character head modeled with puckered, slightly-open lips, defined cheek bones, slender neck, threaded blue paperweight e...

This pedal car was designed in 1998 by the world famous designer Philippe Starck for French retail group La Redoute. It was part of the Good Goods collectio...

Vintage vogue Paris magazine, april 1994 - no 745. 166 pages. Front page: Nina Brosh photographed by Dominique Issermann. In good vintage condition. Spine with some wear according to...

AUTHOR: M. Guys [Pierre-Augustin]. TITLE: Marseille Ancienne et Moderne. PUBLISHER: Paris: Veuve Duchesne, 1786. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION WITH THE GILT ARMS OF NAPOLEON. 1 vol....

This antique terrestrial table globe is a French example attributed to the celebrated cartographer Félix Delamarche, whose firm was renowned for producing high quality, geographicall...

Antique large Gothic Revival wall bracket with carved acanthus leafs This handcrafted and hand-carved, Gothic Revival wall bracket is one of the largest we ever had the pleasure of offering. Together with the natural flowing and deeply carved, acanthus leafs and the Gothic rosettes around the upper rim it also has the most wonderful organic shape. The sheer size of this church relic, its striking design and its ancient patina makes it an absolute joy to own and look at. This is a great bracket for displaying a large saint statue...

Vintage vogue Paris magazine, october 1994 - no 750. 228 pages. Front page: Chystèle photographed by Craig MC Dean. In good vintage condition. Spine with some wear according to age. ...

AMBIANIC presents Vintage Colmont FT Paris binoculars Colmont a French optical company known for producing high-quality binoculars  leather-covered body maker stamp present 7.75 x 5 ...

This early 1900s French Metal Scale is an evocative piece of history that marries function with rustic charm. Featuring a robust metal frame with an aged, weathered patina, the scale...

NASCAR: The Thunder of America.Thunder Of America: 50th Anniversary of NASCAR hardcover 1988.Published by Harper, 1988.200 pages of NASCAR history, info, stats and photos.Hardcover w...

“Mappe Monde, contenant les Parties Connues du Globe Terrestre” CHAMBON, Gobert-Denis (France, 17.. - 1781) Paris, Longchamps et Janvier, 1754 Size H. 115 x W. 145 cm. Gobert-Denis Chambon made copper engraving after the work of Guillaume De L’Isle, published in 1754 by Jean Janvier and S.G. Longschamps. A huge wall map of the world in two hemispheres printed on two sheets, depicting the Eastern and Western hemispheres supported by two male figures, decorated at the bottom right and left with two celestial hemispheres (boreal and southern) and at the bottom in the middle with an armillary sphere, in addition. This map is most notable for its depiction of the Sea of Japan labeled "Mer de Corée" and of "Mer de L'Ouest" or Sea of the West - a great sea, easily the size of the Mediterranean, to flow from the then-known Strait of Juan de Fuca...

About A late 19th century balance scale. The body is Mahogany with two brass trays, brass and glass window and bronze inner mechanism. Th...

Marine Surgeon's Box" Louis MATHIEU 1816-1879 Navy Surgeon's Box with two superimposed trays presenting the different instruments (including saw, scalpels, trepanning tools, box...

Suite of 10 1930s Golf Clubs. Suite of 10 vintage golf clubs, wooden handles, from the 1930s, including 8 iron and 2 wood. Dimensions each: h: 105cm, w: 10cm, d: 7cm

Early 20th century Belle Époque faux crocodile leather and silvered metal cigar case with horse decoration by Ducas Paris, France By: Ducas Paris Material: metal, silver, leather, f...

A silvered bronze poudrier box "Ammonite" by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997). In the 1940s, Line Vautrin designed a series that was inspired by the shape of na...

Map of Hautes-Alpes France with Gap and Alpine Scenery by Vuillemin Description: This elegant 19th-century map of the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France was created by A...

Pair of speakers model “ 1401 ” 4-way system, 3 speakers, power up to 80W. Custom-made stands. Manufactured by Elipson in France in 1986. Producer - Elispon. Model - 1401. P...

19th century French grand tour iron model of the Arc de Triomphe, in two parts, the fine cast iron model of the Arc de Triomphe with a mirrored top. Raised on a oval ebonized wood and metal chain link fenced base Model of Arc de Triomphe...

High Jewelry by Cartier Contemporary Creations Hardcover Large Book. 1st edition. A sumptuous tribute to Cartier’s creations with spectacular new photographs of unique pieces, many o...

Large French Art Deco Three-Masted Barque Ship Model by Anthoine Art Bois, France, 1920s. This impressive French Art Deco ship model represents a three-masted barque, expertly crafte...

A stunning rare vintage Haute Couture bib necklace attributed to Maison Gripoix for Chanel. Made with Pate de Verre, a process perfected by famous French Atelier Augustine Gripoix in...

Luxuriously bound in calf leather, this limited and numbered edition of the Louis Vuitton Easter Island Travel Book is signed and includes an exclusive drawing by its American artist...

Sculpture Concorde model black in fiberglass in black matt finish. Scale 1/36em on polished brushed aluminium base. Exceptional and unique piece.

La Tapisserie Gothique, par Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins, by E. Planès, Directeur de la Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins. Published by Albert Morancé...

"French Gilt Ciborium – Silver Cup, Louis XV Period (circa 1740–1760)" French Gilded Ciborium – Silver Bowl, Gilded Copper Base & Lid Louis XV Period (c. 1740–1760) / Reassembled & H...

Antique Drawing Instrument Set in Rosewood Box, France, 1900. A wonderful set of drawing instruments / calipers / compasses to draw and dr...

Ptolemaic armillary sphere Charles-François Delamarche Paris, ante 1798 Wood and papier-mâché covered with printed and partly hand-colored paper It measures 16.37 in in height x Ø 10.94 in (41.60 cm - Ø 27.80 cm) It weights 2.33 lb (1,058 g) State of conservation: consistent with its age and use, the paper shows some signs of use, stains and abrasions. The sphere is Ptolemaic, with the Earth placed at its center, surrounded by the Moon and the Sun mounted on two metal arms. The sphere is composed of six horizontal and two vertical rings (armillae), each bearing graduations and its own name. The first horizontal ring is illegible. The others, in descending order are: North Pole, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, South Pole. The vertical rings consist of two double meridians. The sphere is then connected to the large meridian by two pins, a vertical ring inserted perpendicularly into the circle of the Horizon, in turn supported by four semicircles connected to the turned and black-stained wooden base. Each element is covered with printed paper. It contains various pieces of information: latitudes, length of days, names and zodiac symbols, calendar, wind directions, etc. The vertical circles mention the latitudes and longitudes of different cities: Rome, Bordeaux, Madrid, Boston, Batavia (Jakarta), Acapulco, etc. Even the small terrestrial globe is covered with printed paper: continents and oceans appear with numerous geographical markings indicating the most recent explorations. In the Pacific Ocean, west of South America bears the following inscription: GLOBE TERRESTRIAL à Paris chez Delamarche Géog Rue du Foin Jacques Au Collège de M.e Gervais The North American coasts are well delineated and California appears correctly as a peninsula - reports from Spanish explorers in the region had given rise to confusion as to whether it was connected to the mainland or not. The geographical nature of California was confirmed after the explorations of Juan Bautista de Anza (1774-1776). Alaska is not described and is only partially traced; it would become part of the United States in 1867. Various Pacific islands are indicated. Australia (the name definitely used from 1824) is called "Nouvelle Hollande." Tasmania is still represented as a peninsula and this is an important detail for the dating of our armillary sphere. The island is separated from Australia by Bass Strait, which was crossed by Matthew Flinders for the first time in 1798, showing that it was not a peninsula. Delamarche certainly would not have waited a long time to update such an important geographical datum: presumably he did so shortly after receiving the news. Charles-François Delamarche (1740-1817) founded his laboratory around 1770 and, in a few years, he became the most famous French cartographer and globe maker between the 18th and 19th centuries. After having acquired the laboratory of the late Didier Robert de Vaugondy (1723-1786; himself a renowned cartographer who continued the family business founded by his grandfather Nicolas Sanson in the seventeenth century) and after having purchased, between 1788 and around 1800, the businesses of Jean-Baptiste Fortin (1750-1831) and Jean Lattré (around 1750-1800), he began to call himself "Successeur de MM. Sanson and Robert de Vaugondi, Géographes du Roi and de M. Fortin, Ingénieur-mécanicien du Roi pour les globes et les sphères." Thus, at the end of the eighteenth century, Delamarche possessed the warehouse stocks, as well as the manufacturing skills of the globes of his main rivals in Paris. In addition to this aggressive acquisition policy, the key to its success also lay in the combination of high-quality cartography combined with extremely attractive globes and armillary spheres; and, of course, its famous red paint finishing touch. His laboratory was located on Rue de Foin St Jacques "au Collège Me. (or "Mtre") Gervais" in the Latin Quarter of Paris until around 1805, when he moved to rue du Jardinet No. 13. On the death of Charles-François in 1817, the reins of the company passed to his son Félix (1779-1835), who continued to publish, often in collaboration with the engraver Charles Dien, Sr. In 1835 the company first moved to rue du Jardinet No. 12 and a little later to rue du Battoir No. 7. Bibliography: Dekker, Elly, et al. Globes at Greenwich...

This 19th-century optical magnifying glass is a true testament to the scientific and artisanal craftsmanship of its time. Made from high-precision glass, it was originally part of op...

This is a distinctive antique French patinated boxwood altar Corpus Christi of Christ crucified on an olive wood cross, dating from the late 17th Century.   The details  are very impressive, the Corpus Christi is very life-like, wearing a flowing linen cloth, his eyes closed and head upper-turned and raised on a stepped base.   The craftsmanship is second to none throughout all aspects of this magnificent altar Corpus Christi which is sure to add an unparalleled touch of sacred art to your home. Condition: In good condition. As an antique item, the piece shows signs of use commensurate with age, these minor condition issues are mentioned for accuracy and, as seen in the accompanying photographs, it displays beautifully. Dimensions in cm: Height 64 cm x Width 26 cm x Depth 13 cm Dimensions in inches: Height 2 feet, 1 inch x Width 10 inches x Depth 5 inches The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus, is the best-known symbol of Christianity. It is related to the crucifix (a cross that includes a corpus, usually a three-dimensional representation of Jesus' body) and to the more general family of cross symbols, the term cross itself being detached from the original specifically Christian meaning in modern English (as in many other western languages). The basic forms of the cross are the Latin cross with unequal arms (✝) and the Greek cross (✚) with equal arms, besides numerous variants, partly with confessional significance, such as the tau cross...

This miniature rattan Peacock, also known as the Emanuelle chair, offers a refined take on an iconic silhouette. Crafted in woven rattan with an airy lattice back and sculptural pedestal base, it translates the dramatic peacock form into an elegant small-scale accent. The piece presents very good condition, with stable structure and an attractive, even tone to the cane. Ideal as a decorative object on a console, bookshelf, or desk, it also suits styling for boutiques, photo shoots, or display with small figures and art objects. The neutral palette complements both contemporary and vintage interiors, from minimalist spaces to layered bohemian rooms. A charming collectible for design enthusiasts, this miniature Peacock chair...

A fine pair of French enamel, brass and mother of pearl opera glasses, pink enamelled and jewelled barrels, with mother of pearl caps. Go...

Antique Map of Tibet and Region West of Turfan by D’Anville, Paris, 1737 This finely engraved map is one of the detailed sheets from Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville’s Carte géné...

Antique Map of the Americas and West Indies by Robert de Vaugondy, 1778 This detailed antique map titled "Amérique ou Indes Occidentales" was published in 1778 by the renowned Frenc...

A truly stunning pair of French Opera glasses made from polished brass and clad with shell. This pair comes with a telescopic lorgnette handle and folds away nicely when not if use....

Antique 19th Century French gold mounted on mother of pearl, extensive traveling etui set, of elongated octagonal form, the gold mounted with polished mother of pearl panels and the lid applied with cast and enamelled floral decoration, the lid opens with a push-button. Inside enclosing the original gold and steel implements:, scissors, pen knife...

A decorative Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur and Arc de Triomphe souvenir building sculpture. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of metal and a marble base. This item ...

Very beautiful French opera glasses in Mop and brass dating from the beginning of the 20th century. Central wheel to approach or move away the view. Flammarion brand stamp on the to...

Vintage tabletop swing ball game. A rare tabletop swing ball game in original pine box. The exterior of the lid with stenciled name 'Le Spiroble de Salon'. The interior with paper instructions. The Victorian or early Edwardian game comprises of a short beech-wood pole with weighted X base and a ball on a piece of string. There are two very nice long handled rackets to accompany the set, the rackets with original gut stringing. A fine and I believe very rare set. The paper instructions are in French and read:- Le Spiroble de Salon. Deux Joueurs:- Ce jeu se joue sur une table divisee en deux parties egales par le Trace. Il se compose d'un Poteau au sommet duquel est attachee une cordelet le terminee par une balle en caoutehoue. Pour installer le Poteau on en fait entrer l' extremite dans le support alour- di de plomb en forme decroix. Le support est place au milieu de la table dans l'axe du Trace. Deux joueurs prennent part au jeu. Munis chacun d'une raquette, ils se placent en ???? l'un de l'autre de chaque cote du Trace et tirent au sort a qui lancera la balle. Le joueur faorise lance la balle fortement aves sa raquettsde facon a enrouler la cor...

Large late 19th Century large projector lens in good condition. Circa 1880.

Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These beautiful books are perfect to fill a nice libra...

This is a French Model 1910-No.1366 Desk Telephone. It depicts a square wooden tall box with a metal handset connected at the top. A long cord join the handset to the generator in th...

Antique Gold Brooch set with rose cut diamond and enamel. Renaissance Revival brooch . Design: In the style of Carlo Giuliano, Robert Phillips, Charles Duron...

Hand carved Wood Model Sailing Ship model Margaret Sculpture Center Piece LA CA . A very large and rare 19th century painted wood model of the sailing ship "Margaret". Votive ship. Height 54" width: 61" and depth: 15". The scale is perfect as it had to be and the quality of work is evident. Further inspection reveals that no detail was too small, as evidenced by the carved small boats, the ropes, poles and fittings. 5 feet long. This stunningly beautiful and intricately carved ship model was created by the sailors when they were at sea for many years at a time and they created this amazing model using handmade tools using scraps of whatever was available for carving and bringing this piece of art to life. A votive ship, sometimes called a church ship, is a ship model displayed...

1970s Gorgeous smoking set by Pierre Cardin in brass and metal. Made in France. The table lighter works. This smoking set is in excellent condition and it's signed Dimension : Tab...

Cuirassier armour in the 17th century style. The helmet with a mild comb, open eyelets, large brow peak and two-piece visor, breastplate with raised medial ridge, shoulder and arm ar...

This is a stunning, large brass and copper airplane model made in France circa 1960. The piece features an impressive all-metal jet plane model on a th...

French early 19th century gilt barometer.

Stunning Art Deco wood airplane propeller model mounted on a geometric wood and metal display. This Art Deco model airplane is crafted from solid wood and features a lovely, warm pat...

A Pair of Napoleonic Portrait Miniatures Commander of Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse (1760-1829) Career Joined the French Navy in the 1780sPartic...

A decorative building sculpture as a souvenir. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is due to age. Made of metal. This item was purchased as a souvenir in Paris, France and was pro...

Attributed to Hermes, leather and brass miners table lighter. France 1960s.

Group of 12 Assorted Leather or Marbled Bound Books, 19th Century. Books are in different languages and sizes