Maison Krieger Fl. 1826-1900 "Architecture, Sculpture, and Renommées", four life size carved mahogany allegorical figures Paris, made in 1889, sculpted by Jean Baptiste Gustave Deloye

each signed G.DELOYE

Exposition Universelle de Paris, 1889

Champier, Victor, "Les Industries d'Art à l'Exposition Universelle de 1889", Suppl. Revue des Arts Décoratifs, Octobre 1889, Fascicule IV, Paris, Union des Arts Décoratifs, Palais de L'Industrie, 1889, illustrated.

The Art Journal, The Illustrated Catalogue of the Paris International Exhibition, 1867, 1878, 1889 and 1900, H. Virtue & Co. Ltd., London.

Mestdagh, Camille, L' Ameublement d'Art Français 1850-1900, Les Editions de L'Amateur, Paris, 2010, pps. 65 and 174, illustrated pl. 68 and pl.197

Overall in fair condition and impressive life size presentation. One Victory is missing her trumpet. Architecture is missing her compass. Sculpture is missing the tip of her chisel as well as what appears to have been the model of a nude male sculpture that she originally held in her left hand (as visible in the contemporary black and white photograph.) Seams of construction are visible consistent with wood shrinking and expanding, consistent with temperature changes throughout the seasons. The department encourages interested parties to use our online e-catalogue's zoom function to enjoy magnified and alternate views of this lot.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present four allegorical figures were part of the Maison Krieger's imperial stairway at the 1889 Paris world's fair. The double stairway (escalier à double devellopement) would lead the visitors to the firm's exhibition stand on the first flight. Designed by the architect Alexandre Sandier (1843-1916), the staircase was made of finely carved oak elements adorned by the present female figures, sculpted by Gustave Deloye (1848-1899), en ronde bosse from mahogany. This tour de force of sculpture and achitecture won the firm the highest praise from the jury as well as one of the highest prize of the exhibition, "Le Grand Prix".

Both marchands-merciers and manufacturers of furniture with large mechanized workshops, Antoine Krieger and his brother Nicolas founded Maison Krieger in 1826 at 17, Rue Saint-Nicolas, Paris.  In 1850 the firm  became Antoine Krieger et Cie.  When Antoine Krieger died in 1856, his son-in-law took over the company and changed the name to Maison Racault et Cie, subsequently H. Racault et Cie; Colin Damon et Cie in 1870, Damon, Namur et Cie in 1875, Damon et Colin in 1892 and finally Cosse-Racault et Cie.  One of the largest mechanized workshops of furniture in Paris, the firm was located at 74, Rue Du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine.  Numerous furniture styles were displayed and created by Maison Krieger, who produced and exhibited copies as well as unique creations of eighteenth-century style designs alongside stylized interpretations of the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles.  They were exhibitors at the major exhibitions of the nineteenth century up to the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris.