Ref.9386
Four busts of Kings of France, former Beistegui collection

These four Neo-Renaissance style plaster busts represent Kings of France. They are copies of originals from the Renaissance and the 17th century that are in the Louvre. The first bust, copy of a bronze original, represents Louis XIII. For a long time, this sculpture was attributed to Jean Warin in the museum inventories but today specialists believe it is the work of Francesco Bordoni because it was found in the collection of his son Pierre Bordoni at his death. The three other busts are copies of works in alabaster and marble from the studio of the famous sculptor Germain Pilon (1535-1590). They are portraits of Henri II, Charles IX and Henri III. The four kings are wearing coronation clothes, each wearing the chain of the order of Saint Michael around their neck.

Ref.12148
Henri Léon GREBER (1855-1941) - "La Printemps" sculpture in white Carrara marble

"Le Printemps" sculpture in white Carrara marble signed Henri Léon GREBER (1855-1941).

Ref.13467
Willy Guhl, Rare pair of tooth planters, circa 1954

This rare pair of planters was made by the Swiss designer, Willy Ghul in the 1950's in natural fiber cement. It's the edition « Eternit AG/Elo, 1954 » which is shaped as an abstract triangle reminding a tooth shape. « Willy Guhl was an inventor, an experimenter, a resercher and a visionary. Despite that, he did not get lost in utopia. He reveals himself to be pragmatic almost a genius. » Robert Haussman Willy Guhl was part of these historical designers historiques who have contributed to the international reputation of the Swiss design. He was one of the big representative of Neo-Functionalism. From a carpenter father, he follows a furniture maker formation in the Kunstgewerbeschule of Zurich – School of applied arts of Zurich here he teaches from 1941 -, and becomes the director of the interior architecture department 10 years after. He leads in the late 1940's pionneer reaserches in the plastic furniture field. He develops then a knowledge about moulding technical that we allow him to reveal himself by transposing them on a new material : the Eternit, also called fibercement, which he is one of the first to use in Europe. The Eternit is a kind of cement reinforce by asbestos and with a fiber texture which allows to create audacious pieces with new shapes. It takes the aspect of larges slabs to which it is possible to give a shape as long as they are not dried. Produced in the origin for the industry, it's a cheap material with an important resistance, so perfectly adapted for the fabrication of external furniture.

Ref.4803
Carved oak mantel from the 18th century