Decorative items

The decorative objects, or " objets d'art", covers a wide range of items. It includes cast iron horse ties from the late 19th century or lacquered inkwells or 18th century spinning wheels. An objet d’art meets the highest standards in its realization and meticulous finishes, whatever the materials are. Until the late 19th century those materials were wood, precious or semi-precious stones, ivory, glass and crystal, wrought iron, copper, brass, and mostly bronze. Bronzes can have a natural, gilt or silver patina, as in works from sculptors like Thomire, Ravrio, Barbedienne, Beurdeley in the 19th century, or Niccolo Roccataglia in the early 17th century. In the 20th century new materials have shown up, like Plexiglas, used for instance on decorative obelisks. Contemporary Objets d’art creations still use materials from the past but can also adopt new ones like plaster or resin like the 1970s works made in fractal resin by Pierre Giraudon or the “Elephant “sculpture made in 2014 by Michel Audiard.