Ref.10988
Antique fireback with French coat of arms and rich decor with cupids, 17th century

This antique fireback was made in the 17th century. It is decorated with the French coat of arms - three fleurs-de-lis surmounted by a crown - and a rich decoration. Two cupidons are in the upper corners while two winged women frame the arms. A solar figure is represented in the center.

Ref.13777
Bronze gilded suspension with glass gemstones. Napoleon III period.

This gilt bronze chandelier has eight branches which take the form of glassware and candles and surround a semi spherical decorated with glass gemstones. Result of a very careful work, this chandelier has incised decorations of fleur de lis, crosses and flowers. Richly decorated, it displays numerous characters and creatures: dragons adorn the mounts of the branches, playing with the effect of curves and counter-curves, childish characters whose bodies terminate in vegetative vases support torches. Finally, heads of bearded men and women, masks similar to the foliage of ornamental furniture of the eighteenth century, occupy the uprights of this chandelier. Each space is occupied by a decoration of gilded bronze, showing the work of craftsmanship that has been done on this chandelier: latticed elements alongside small sculptures making all the charm of this true piece of art. At the Paris International Exhibition in 1881, the American Thomas Edison, inventor and businessman, gave a demonstration of his incandescent light bulbs. Parisians were excited. Because of its cost, public electric-powered lighting was reserved for prestigious places, French Theatre, Place de l’Opera, Grand Boulevards and of course the Universal Exhibitions, showcases  with the emerging technology. Thanks to Edison, everything changed. The Continental Edison Company was founded a year later. At that time Paris was divided into several areas allocated to different companies. Each company had its own technical standards and it took until 1913 to unify the network that was given to the Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d'Electricité (CPDE).The appearance of the incandescent bulb not only allowed the construction of large chandeliers, but also lasted for nearly a thousand hours before being replaced, and all this for a very low manufacturing cost (25 francs at the time). Electric lighting was going to replace the use of gas during the 1890s and by the beginning of the 20th century became the only means of lighting.

Ref.13361
Fireback with the coat of arms of Pierre Godart, 19th century

This fireback was made in the late 19th century, it was made moulded from a model made in the 18th century. It is adorned with the Godard coat of arms, could be Pierre Godard's one, dead in 1751, knight, Lord of Belbeuf, general prosecutor in the Rouen parliament. He marries Augustine-Hélène Le Pelletier, lady of Saint Gervais, daughter and heir of Louis Le Pelletier, Lord of La Fosse, near Vendôme (see REF 9534). He obtains the belbeuf land to be marquisate in 1719. Or it could be Jean Pierre Prosper Godart's ones, son of the previous, titled second Marquis of Belbeuf in 1751, general lawyer and prosecutor general in the Normandie parliament in 1762. The original fireback is now in the Musée d'Art, d'histoire et d'archéologie of Evreux and comes from the Belbeuf castle.