Lot Essay
This garniture bears the stamp of Denière, the celebrated 19th century manufacturer of decorative bronzes. The firm was based in the rue Vivienne from the 1820s with a production site in the rue d'Orléans, and was managed by Guillaume Denière between 1855 and the end of the century. The firm was represented at several industrial exhibitions, which were so popular during the 19th century and contributed to their success. (P. Kjellberg, Les Bronzes du XIXe Siècle, Paris, 1989, p.659)
These bronzes d'ameublement were much admired in elegant Dutch circles throughout the 19th century and were mainly imported from France and the Southern Netherlands as they were not produced in Holland. The Prince of Orange (later King William II) showed a keen interest in these objects and purchased several items of furniture and works of art in 1827 and 1828 from the Brussels dealer P.J.Heyvaert Pauwels, among which a 'veilleuse' and a pair of ormolu candelabra, described as 'gothique', which was the first of the historical styles. A number of 19th century ormolu garnitures have remained in situ since their purchase, such as the splendid example by the celebrated bronzier François Barbedienne, which was acquired around 1870 by Abraham and Louisa Willet-Holthuysen for the newly-decorated drawing-room in their house on the Herengracht in Amsterdam. (R.J. Baarsen et.al., De Lelijke Tijd, Pronkstukken van Nederlandse interieurkunst 1835-1895, Amsterdam, 1995, pp. 16 and 154-155)
See illustration
These bronzes d'ameublement were much admired in elegant Dutch circles throughout the 19th century and were mainly imported from France and the Southern Netherlands as they were not produced in Holland. The Prince of Orange (later King William II) showed a keen interest in these objects and purchased several items of furniture and works of art in 1827 and 1828 from the Brussels dealer P.J.Heyvaert Pauwels, among which a 'veilleuse' and a pair of ormolu candelabra, described as 'gothique', which was the first of the historical styles. A number of 19th century ormolu garnitures have remained in situ since their purchase, such as the splendid example by the celebrated bronzier François Barbedienne, which was acquired around 1870 by Abraham and Louisa Willet-Holthuysen for the newly-decorated drawing-room in their house on the Herengracht in Amsterdam. (R.J. Baarsen et.al., De Lelijke Tijd, Pronkstukken van Nederlandse interieurkunst 1835-1895, Amsterdam, 1995, pp. 16 and 154-155)
See illustration