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Lot Essay
The present garniture relates closely to another set with painted glass rather than cloisonné elements and signed by Escalier de Cristal, sold Christie's East, 29 March 2000, lot 214 ($83,900).
Established in 1802, the luxury store of the firm À L'Escalier de Cristal supplied clocks, lamps and other objets d'art to ruling families in Europe, and were appointed fournisseur breveté du Roi in 1819. The company commissioned manufacturers to supply individual components which were then assembled to the firm's own designs - much in the tradition of the 18th century marchands-merciers, from whom they inherited their specialist profession.
The design for the present garniture may well be attributed to Emile-Auguste Reiber (d. 1893). As chief designer at Christofle (with whom L'Escalier de Cristal collaborated), Reiber was inspired by the arts of Japan and imitated their production techniques in adapting designs to produce stunning pieces to satisfy the burgeoning new vogue for exotic styles as a result of Japan opening its doors to the West.
Established in 1802, the luxury store of the firm À L'Escalier de Cristal supplied clocks, lamps and other objets d'art to ruling families in Europe, and were appointed fournisseur breveté du Roi in 1819. The company commissioned manufacturers to supply individual components which were then assembled to the firm's own designs - much in the tradition of the 18th century marchands-merciers, from whom they inherited their specialist profession.
The design for the present garniture may well be attributed to Emile-Auguste Reiber (d. 1893). As chief designer at Christofle (with whom L'Escalier de Cristal collaborated), Reiber was inspired by the arts of Japan and imitated their production techniques in adapting designs to produce stunning pieces to satisfy the burgeoning new vogue for exotic styles as a result of Japan opening its doors to the West.