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Lot Essay
This spectacular jardinière, attributed to L'Escalier de Cristal, elegantly blends European and Asian styles and motifs; it illustrates the importance of Far Eastern influence on European decorative arts following the reopening of Japan in 1854. Closely related ormolu langoustines are found on a clock of Baccarat engraved crystal, attributed to L'Escalier de Cristal, exhibited at Le Japonisme, le gôut de l'exotisme au XIX ème siècle, at the Galerie Roxane Rodriguez, 16 September-16 October 2004 (exhibition catalogue, pp. 13-14). A similar motif, an enamel vase on an ormolu crustacean base, is found on a cabinet, designed by Gabriel Viardot, retailed by L'Escalier de Cristal, now at the Cornell Museum of Glass (79.3.77).
The marchand-éditeur, L'Escalier de Cristal was established in 1802 by Madame Désarnaud, supplying clocks, lamps and other objets d'art to important European families. The business was initially located in the Palais Royal, and then moved to 6, rue Scribe followed by 1, rue Auber, in the fashion area of L'Opéra. Acquired in 1839 by M. Lahoche, the firm passed to his son-in-law, Emile Pannier, around 1864-66. In 1885, Georges and Henry Pannier succeeded their father. From 1840, L'Escalier de Cristal participated in and were awarded medals at most of the international exhibitions, bronze in London in 1851, silver in New York in 1853, and in Paris in 1855, bronze in London in 1862, and in Paris in 1867 and 1878, and finally gold in the Paris in 1900. The store became an icon of Parisien gôut and luxury, 'Toutes les fortunes, tous les gens qui ont le discernement éclairé viennent è Paris, de tous les pays du monde pour lui [Pannier] demander son gôut régulateur' (Exposition Universelle de Londres, Catalogue de la section française, 1862, p. 175). The firm 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. L'Escalier de Cristal collaborated throughout the 19th century with famous designers such as Viardot, Lièvre, and also the atelier, Baccarat, and Majorelle for glass. The culmination was always the creation, not the copy, of a beautiful object inspired by the exotic taste, and made with the help of the best craftmen and designers of their time.
The marchand-éditeur, L'Escalier de Cristal was established in 1802 by Madame Désarnaud, supplying clocks, lamps and other objets d'art to important European families. The business was initially located in the Palais Royal, and then moved to 6, rue Scribe followed by 1, rue Auber, in the fashion area of L'Opéra. Acquired in 1839 by M. Lahoche, the firm passed to his son-in-law, Emile Pannier, around 1864-66. In 1885, Georges and Henry Pannier succeeded their father. From 1840, L'Escalier de Cristal participated in and were awarded medals at most of the international exhibitions, bronze in London in 1851, silver in New York in 1853, and in Paris in 1855, bronze in London in 1862, and in Paris in 1867 and 1878, and finally gold in the Paris in 1900. The store became an icon of Parisien gôut and luxury, 'Toutes les fortunes, tous les gens qui ont le discernement éclairé viennent è Paris, de tous les pays du monde pour lui [Pannier] demander son gôut régulateur' (Exposition Universelle de Londres, Catalogue de la section française, 1862, p. 175). The firm 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. L'Escalier de Cristal collaborated throughout the 19th century with famous designers such as Viardot, Lièvre, and also the atelier, Baccarat, and Majorelle for glass. The culmination was always the creation, not the copy, of a beautiful object inspired by the exotic taste, and made with the help of the best craftmen and designers of their time.