Ref.12861
Ferdinand BARBEDIENNE (1810 – 1892) (Attrib.) Pair of cloisonne enameled Chinese lamps

This rare pair of lamps have been made with Chinese cloisonne enameled vases, and bronze mounted around 1880 in France. The finesse of the cloisonne enamel offers a rich decoration around the body of each lamp. Various scenes with animals are occuring in spaces delimited by stylized foliage. The lamp on the right side is decorated with pheasants and on the second lamp with cranes. On the reverse of each lamp, bouquets of various flowers, butterflies and birds are depicted. The colors used are extremely varied and vivid on a blue background.The decoration in gilded bronze is attributed to Ferdinand Barbedienne, a famous Parisian bronzier. The bases of each lamp are formed by four finely chiseled elephant heads, resting on their trunks. The lamps are sold with their original globes ornamented with gilded dragon decoration (Baccarat).These lamps reflect the Chinese vogue that occured in the late 19th century. Asian elements, especially chinese, were reused in European furniture and works of art. Thoses objects were made for the sumptuous interiors.

Ref.11445
BACCARAT, Pair of vases with Japanese decoration of flowering trees and birds, circa 1880

This pair of vases with Japanese-style decoration was made by the Baccarat crystal works around 1880. The company created these square vases in black crystal resting on a bronze frame. These works are adorned with a natural, highly poetic decoration executed using the technique of hot enamelling in relief. Founded under Louis XV, the French Baccarat crystal factory demonstrated its excellence at the Universal Exhibitions throughout the 19th century. The black colour of hyalite crystal is obtained by injecting slag or sulphur into the glass. This dark background enhances the painted decoration. In this case, it was used to create a decoration in imitation of Chinese or Japanese lacquer plates: cherry blossom branches with wild geese flying around them stand out against the black background. The designs of the two vases are axially symmetrical. The bright colours stand out clearly against the background, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail that went into this decoration. The bronze mount at the top and base of the vases also adopts an orientalist style: the vase rests on four elephant heads resting on their trunks. A preparatory drawing kept in the glassworks’ archives shows a vase whose Japanese-style decoration was designed according to the same principle of imitating lacquer using black crystal.