THE FIGURES 19TH CENTURY

France's long fascination with the Orient dates back to the mid-17th century, when lacquered screens, porcelains and other wares were imported and adapted into some of the rarest, most sophisticated objects produced in the 17th and 18th centuries. Parisian marchands-merciers sought to capitalize on the huge demand for these rare objects, and created their own versions of these prized imports. This distinct aesthetic, the goût chinois, is aptly illustrated by these charming figures, which are clearly inspired by similar figures produced by Martin Frères in the 1740s as supports for clocks and candelabra.