19th Century French Pair of Napoleon III Hand-painted Porcelain Plaques

A circular French 19th century ormolu-mounted and polychromed porcelain centerpiece. Designed and inspired in the Chinese taste with birds, butterflies, foliages and flowers on a bl...

A Universal Exhibition Painting on Plaque after the painter James Bertrand Hand-painted Polychromed Painting on Porcelain Plaque Representing The Marguerite of Faust Signed Lower Left Titled on the reverse: “Marguerite Folle d’Après James Bertrand, Exposition Universelle 1889” After the painting by James Bertrand "The Marguerite of Faust" In its original frame Circa 1890 Faust and Marguerite Faust is tired of his old life and wants to kill himself. In a final burst of bitter anger, he invokes the devil. The devil appears in the guise of Mephistopheles and offers him a pact: he will grant him what he desires most in the world in exchange for his servitude. Faust asks him for youth and his help in seducing Marguerite. When he achieves his goal, bound by his contract with the devil, Faust abandons the latter who is waiting for her child. Filled with remorse, he returns to her, but kills Valentin, Marguerite's brother who tries to stop him, during a duel. He then tries to save the life of Marguerite who is imprisoned for infanticide, but he fails. Like this multifaceted character, the vocal treat-ment chosen by Gounod is differentiated: sometimes very lyrical with touching flights, sometimes very cold and repetitive to evoke her detachment from the world of men. Marguerite is young and naive. She lets herself be seduced by the charming and mysterious character of Faust and thus causes her own downfall as well as that of her family (her brother and her child will die). Hortense Richard (1858-1940) Marie Sophie Hortense Jeanne Schrenk was born in Charonne in 1858, the natural daughter of Louise Christine Frederika Schrenk and an unnamed father. Her mother, a German born in Stuttgart, officially recognized her in August 1879. A few days later, Hortense married his fellow painter Désiré Alfred Magne...

19th Century French Napoléon III Occasional Marquetry Table A very fine and elegant kidney shaped side / occasional table, Raised by four delicately scrolled cabriole legs the kidn...

A Large Silvered Bronze and Baccarat Crystal Centerpiece The silvered bronze mounts design simulating branches, foliages, leaves and grapevines Original fitted festooned Baccarat Cry...