A bronze fox and a remembered fox Confession time. I don’t go in for writing poetry much, and haiku is strictly my limit. But what struck me when I saw this elegant silvered bronze fox by Valmazan was how well it captures a moment in nature, and makes you think about it. In the same…
Leune, and a brace of exotic birds This flamboyant Art Deco vase is a perfect example of the taste for enamelled glass in France in the 1920s. It was made by Maison Leune, a Paris glass factory in business from around 1900 to 1930. What strikes you first are the ‘hot’ vitrified colours, the vibrant…
Charles Greber and Art Nouveau I had to wrest this Charles Greber Art Nouveau jardinière from the “homme de ma vie” He thought it would make a good receptacle for storing his hazelnuts. Well, it has been a bumper year for hazelnuts this year, but even so… It’s a stupendous piece of French Art Nouveau stoneware…
Paris: The Bastille Antiques Fair – without the Bastille The Bastille antiques fair is a Paris institution – not least for its remarkable location. Held in May and November, the antiques fair straddles the Port de l’Arsenal, a delectable little pleasure port, smack in the heart of the city. Sadly, this year might be the…
You’re never too young or too old to be fascinated by France’s transatlantic ocean liners. The luxury, the glamour, the style, the spirit of adventure or the technical prowess… there’s something to seduce everyone.
In the last century, the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (also known as The French Line) operated some of the finest passenger liners in history. Among them, the Normandie and the France were legends for their fabulous decor, the last word in French decorative arts.
Georges de Feure, designing Art Nouveau De Feure ‘Grecian’ vase c1900 An intriguing signature on the base of this lovely old vase. It’s crisply moulded, very heavy and obviously special. But who was Georges De Feure? A factory? A studio? An artist? An artist, it turns out – and not just any old artist. Georges…