The finest lots across the entire auction, as selected by our specialists.

Auction Highlights

The enhancement of furniture and works of art with various materials is a real tour de force in this sale, such as the Louis XIV gilt-bronze mounted ebony veneered, pewter, brass, tortoiseshell, bone, ivory, ebonized and exotic wood parquetry and marquetry cabinet (lot 105). This impressive piece of furniture with its delicate and colourful decoration, represents the apogee of marquetry at the end of the 17th century. During the late 18th century, the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory produced a technique that successfully produced porcelain that resembled marble, as can be seen in the white and grey flecks resembling marble on the Choiseul vase made circa 1763 (lot 114).&nbsp; Italian innovative techniques are seen on the Sicilian gilt-bronze mounted mother-of-pearl and horn inlaid red lacquer commode, the decoration of which is very rare and almost unique (lot 106). The Valadier dynasty and especially Giuseppe Valadier, made the mixing of materials a speciality of their Roman workshop, as can be seen on the silver-gilt Sicilian jasper inkstand, made circa 1790 (lot 120).

Precious techniques and art of invention

The Paris Treasures sale offers lots with prestigious and historic provenances: The Sudell Sèvres porcelain service made in 1792-1793, after the drawings of birds around the world from the books by the Comte Buffon, is one of the most famous ornithological services (lot 109).A gold, lapis lazuli and enamel sword presented in the sale was a diplomatic gift from Louis-Alexandre Berthier, Prince of Neuchâtel and Valangin, Prince of Wagram (1753-1815) to his father-in-law Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria (1752-1837) and was created by the famous Versailles manufactory after drawings by Nicolas-Noël Boutet (lot 121). With the same provenance is the bust of Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria (1662 - 1726) by Guillaume de Grof on a pedestal attributed to B.V.R.B. Ier (lot 102). The Rococo is represented by a Roman giltwood console table with impressive scrolling foliage, from the Borghèse collection (lot 108) and a Louis XV gilt-bronze mounted mahogany commode, circa 1760-1765 (lot 119), stamped by Simon Oeben and probably delivered to the Marquise de Pompadour for her château de Ménars which was situated next to the château de Chanteloup of the Duc de Choiseul.

Important Provenances

Travelling the world and discovering new lands and cultures was a common theme used for 18th-century European decorative arts. For example, a magnificent piqué box made in Naples contains a painting of a mosque on the inside of its lid and probably made for the Ottoman market (lot 107). Exotism can also be seen in the Louis XV musical mantel clock adorned with an elephant, typical of the work of Saint-Germain (lot 110). The pair of Louis XV gilt-bronze mounted Chinese porcelain vases is the perfect illustration of the association of two materials from two different worlds and highly appreciated by monarchs and aristocrats (lot 113). Eastern lacquer is also associated with furniture such as the commode à vantaux made by Claude Molitor, decorated with Japanese lacquer panels (lot 123). The Jean Frémin enamelled and gold snuff box made in 1753-1754 is a wonderful example of fashion at the court of Versailles, with our example following the taste for flowers and colour (lot 112). Scientific instruments are also works of art as seen in the pair of Louis XV terrestrial and celestial globes made by Robert de Vaugondy,&nbsp; on green and gilt painted pedestals (lot 116). The same model was delivered to King Louis XV and the Marquise de Pompadour.

Exotism and Discoveries

The 19th century is known as the century of eclecticism, when cabinet makers combined old styles with new motifs and created a new, atmospheric interior. The monumental gilt-bronze mounted ebonized wood and pietre dure inlaid cabinet made by Bernhard Ludwig copies a 17th-century Italian cabinet using the famous Florentine pietra dura technique (lot 109), while Emmanuel Zwiener recreated a pair of Louis XIV style commodes after the model by André-Charles Boulle made for Louis XIV (lot 125). A Louis XVIII bronze mounted porcelain guéridon "L'histoire de l'Amour", circa 1820 combines Sèvres porcelain with bronzes attributed to Thomire to recreate the Queen Marie-Antoinette taste at Versailles (lot 122). With the opening of Japan to the world in 1860, Japonisme became the new fashion in Europe as seen on the two rosewood vitrines decorated with Japanese motifs and made by Edouard Lièvre (lots 126 and 128). Historicism was another movement celebrated during the Expositions Universelles and here illustrated by the silvered-bronze mounted ebonized vitrine made by Giroux and Béfort with Louis XIV and Louis XV decoration (lot 124), as well as the Hungarian maple, maple burl, gilt-bronze and onyx desk, by Izidor König, Budapest, circa 1896 which is adorned with a very unusual marquetry and carved figures (lot 127).&nbsp;

Eclectism in the 19th Century

Paris

Head of Department, Furniture

Louis-Xavier Joseph

Senior coordinator |  Furniture department | Head of sale | Silver department

Marine de Cenival

Cataloguer | Furniture and Silver 

Julia Cottin

Vice President | International Specialist | European Ceramics & Glass

Richard Hird

Ceramics Consultant

Rebecca Wintgens

Associate Specialist | Sculpture

Clémence Bertrand

Specialist, Head of Department, Vertu and Gold Boxes

Alexandra Starp

Associate Specialist | Old Masters & 19 Century Paintings

Meet our Specialists

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Prestigious European provenances such as the marquise de Pompadour, Maximilian of Bavaria, the Massimo and Della Rovere families, but also marschal Berthier lead the Paris Treasures 2024 sale.&nbsp; This year, the Treasures sale, expands to include both London and Paris, check the Treasures London sale 
 
 <a class="Link" href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/treasures?lotFilter=AllLots">here</a>
 
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Treasures | Paris