24 - UARY 31 JANUARYRUARY 2027

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Artworks

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Galleries
Galleries Galerie AB - Agnès Aittouarès Franck Anelli Fine Art Ars Antiqua d'Arschot & Cie Art et Patrimoine - Laurence Lenne Arte-Fact Fine Art Artimo Fine Arts Galerie Ary Jan Galerie BA - Berthet Aittouarès HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC Véronique Bamps Barbara Bassi Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art Galerie de la Béraudière Galerie Berès Bernier/Eliades Galeria Bessa Pereira Galerie BG Arts Boon Gallery Galerie Alexis Bordes Bernard Bouisset Galerie Boulakia Galerie Nicolas Bourriaud Brame & Lorenceau Cabinet of Curiosities - Honourable Silver Objects Galerie Capazza Giammarco Cappuzzo Fine Art Carlucci Gallery Galerie Jean-François Cazeau Galerie Cento Anni Chambre professionnelle belge de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (CLAM) Citadelles & Mazenod CKS Gallery Claes Gallery Collectors Gallery COLNAGHI Costermans Dalton Somaré De Brock De Jonckheere Galerie Bernard De Leye Galerie Oscar De Vos De Wit Fine Tapestries De Zutter Art Gallery Dei Bardi Art Thomas Deprez Fine Arts Patrick Derom Gallery Desmet Fine Arts Virginie Devillez Fine Art DIE GALERIE Douwes Fine Art b.v. Epoque Fine Jewels Finch & Co Galerie Flak A&R Fleury Galerie La Forest Divonne Galerie Christophe Gaillard Galerie des Modernes Gilden's Art Gallery Grusenmeyer-Woliner Galerie Hadjer Galerie Haesaerts-le Grelle Philippe Heim Heutink Ikonen Galerie Hioco Hoffmans Antiques Huberty & Breyne Galerie Hurtebize rodolphe janssen Francis Janssens van der Maelen Kunsthaus Kende Harold t’Kint de Roodenbeke Florian Kolhammer Hartford Fine Art - Lampronti Gallery Alexis Lartigue Lemaire Galerie Lowet de Wotrenge Francis Maere Fine Arts Maison D'Art Maisonjaune Studio Martins&Montero Martos Gallery MARUANI MERCIER MassModernDesign Galerie Mathivet Mearini Fine Art Galerie Greta Meert Meessen Galerie la Ménagerie Mulier Mulier Gallery Jan Muller Antiques Klaas Muller NARDI VENEZIA Nosbaum Reding Dr. Nöth kunsthandel Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Brussels Objects With Narratives Galeria Jordi Pascual Galerie La Patinoire Royale Bach Pauline's Jewellery Box Pelgrims de Bigard Galerie Alexis Pentcheff Christophe Perlès Galerie Perrin Guy Pieters Gallery Gallery de Potter d’Indoye Galerie de la Présidence Pron Van Pruissen Asian Art QG Gallery Maison Rapin Almine Rech Stéphane Renard Fine Art Repetto Gallery robertaebasta Romigioli Antichità Laurent Schaubroeck Serge Schoffel - Art Premier Segoura Fine Art Edouard Simoens Gallery Herwig Simons Fine Arts Stern Pissarro Gallery Stone Gallery Galerie Taménaga TASCHEN TEMPLON The old Treasury Galerie Patrice Trigano unforget Decorative Arts Univers du Bronze Vagabond Antiques Gallery Sofie Van de Velde Van Herck-Eykelberg Galerie Raf Van Severen Samuel Vanhoegaerden Gallery Maurice Verbaet Gallery Galerie von Vertes Axel Vervoordt Galerie Dina Vierny VKD Jewels Galerie Florence de Voldère N. Vrouyr Floris van Wanroij Fine Art Galerie Watteeu by Edouard & Andrea de Caters Victor Werner WHITFORD Willow Gallery
 

Claes Gallery

Dan 'deangle' Mask Ivory Coast, Dan people Presumed early 20th century Wood and pigment H 25 cm Provenance: Hubert Goldet (1945–2000), Paris, until 1972; Lucien Van de Velde (1933-), Antwerp, from 1972 to 1975; René (1901-1998) & Odette (1925–2012) Delenne, Brussels Literature: Arts d’Afrique Noire 34, 1988, p. 49; Utotombo, Kunst uit Zwart-Afrika in Belgisch privé-bezit, de Heusch, Brussels, 1988, p. 148, fig. 59; A ‘Harley Mask’ at the Cleveland Museum of Art: More on Masks among the Mano and Dan Peoples, Petridis, African Arts, Vol. 45, n° 1, 2012, p. 31, fig. 8; Trésors de Côte d’Ivoire, Neyt, Fonds Mercator, Brussels, 2014, p. 44-45, fig. 18 (indication: H. 26 cm); The Language of Beauty in African Art, Petridis, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2022, p. 207, fig. 164 Exhibitions: Utotombo. Kunst uit Zwart-Afrika in Belgisch privé-bezit, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels, 25 March-5 June 1988; The Language of Beauty in African Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 20 January 2022-27 March 2023 Originating from the northwest of Côte d’Ivoire, near the borders of Liberia and Guinea, the Dan are an agricultural people who primarily cultivate rice and cassava. Their way of life, complemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering, is rooted in a patrilineal society without a central authority, structured around clans led by chiefs chosen for their prestige, bravery, or agricultural success. Relations between clans, often marked by rivalries, gave rise to a rigorous social organization: young warriors ensured the group’s defense, while chiefs reinforced their influence through feasts and gifts. Local power rested on a balance between the chief, the council of elders, and the male associations, which upheld discipline, guided the initiation of young men, and preserved community cohesion. The Dan distinguish between two worlds: that of the village - a humanized and social space - and that of the forest, the realm of spirits and natural forces. It is within this duality that their art takes root, renowned for its independence and for the diversity of its styles from one village to another. In their pursuit of formal perfection, Dan artists express through their works an ideal of beauty that is both spiritual and harmonious. A symbol of this aesthetic quest, the Dan 'deangle' mask is characterized by its regular oval shape, polished surface, narrow eyes, short nose, and full, slightly parted lips. The raised scarifications emphasize the geometry and graphic strength of the composition. Of an elegance imbued with softness and femininity, it embodies the Dan ideal of beauty. Used within the Leopard secret society (go), associated with the pacifying spirit zlan, this mask served as an intermediary between young initiates and the village community. First exhibited and published for the general public in 1988, this exceptional work was most recently presented (in 2022) at the Chicago Museum. The mask’s deep gaze, highlighted by a fine band across the eyes, captures the viewer’s attention. Its patina, with warm brown reflections, and its concave form lend it a presence that is both powerful and serene.

 

Axel Vervoordt

Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figure Egypt, Ptolemaic period, circa 332-30 BC Painted wood and gesso H 53 cm Provenance: private collection Jean Martin-Roch, France, acquired before 1936; thence by descent; Rouillac Cheverny, 13 June 2014, lot 15; Sotheby's, New York, 8 December 2015, lot 32

 

Galeria Jordi Pascual

Serge Poliakoff (Moscow 1900-1969 Paris) Abstract Composition, 1967 Oil on canvas 92 x 73 cm Signed lower left This work includes a photo-certificate of authenticity issued by the archives Serge Poliakoff in 2024 Provenance: Studio Bellini, Milan Literature: Poliakoff, Alexis, 'Serge Poliakoff – Catalogue Raisonné', Volume V, 1966-1969, Munich 2016, p. 236, n° 67-101

 

Véronique Bamps

. cartier

Cartier Panther head set with diamonds, pear-cut emerald eyes and onyx muzzle White gold bracelet, circa 2000

 

Stone Gallery

Woolly rhinoceros skull Approx. 50.000 years old 100 x 100 x 35 cm Origin: Siberia This woolly rhinoceros skull is approximately 50,000 years old, belonging to one of the most impressive mammals in the recent history of Northern Europe and Northern Asia. There were even people who lived alongside these giants between around 30,000 and 15,000 years ago! Stone gallery has previously conducted expeditions in various countries but recently acquired this skull through a swap with a local museum. Roy says, 'It is the best-preserved and most complete skull I’ve ever seen. Even the teeth are all original.' Researchers and students from Maastricht University have digitised mammoth and rhinoceros fossils from the Ice Age, including this skull. With this technique, it’s possible to bring these extinct species back to life in motion and conduct new studies. 'We’re investigating how strong the bone structure is. For this, we use Finite Element Analyses, a method commonly applied in the construction of buildings and bridges. The study explores the forces exerted on the bones, such as during chewing. This helps us predict how and what the animal ate, as well as how well it was adapted to its enormous size.' - Paleontologist Dr. Jesse Hennekam, Assistant Professor, Maastricht University -

 

Mearini Fine Art

Capital with column from a Ciborio or Pergula Rome, late 8th-early 9th century White marble H 41 x Ø 20 cm Provenance: formerly in the collection of Elda Francia Gasparrini in Rome Literature: U. Broccoli, Marmi tardo antichi di una collezione privata a Roma, LV 1979, pp. 183-199, ill. p. 193 fig. 10

 

Arte-Fact Fine Art

Domenico Puligo (Florence, 1492-1527) Madonna and Child with the young Saint John the Baptist Oil on panel 95 x 72 cm

 

Costermans

pierre-philippe thomire

Pierre-Philippe Thomire (Paris, 1751-1843)(Attributed to) Pair of table centrepieces Empire period, early 18th century Chiselled and gilded bronze H 57 x W 22 cm

 

Galeria Bessa Pereira

Abraham Palatnik (Brasil, Natal 1928-2020 Rio de Janeiro) Cupboard, 1950s Iron, wood and painted glass H 90 x W 150 x D 49 cm Origin: Brasil Provenance: private collection, Rio de Janeiro; Galeria Bessa Pereira collection Literature: Vicente, A., & Vasconcellos, M. (Comps.), Móvel moderno brasileiro (1st edition), São Paulo: Olhares, 2017, pp. 244-245; Vasconcellos, M., Móvel brasileiro moderno (1st edition), Rio de Janeiro: Aeroplano, 2012, p. 193

 

Mulier Mulier Gallery

panamarenko

Panamarenko (Antwerp 1940-2019 Brakel) Red Drop, 2001 Mixed media 80 x 135 x 60 cm Signed

 

Galerie Hurtebize

pierre-auguste renoir

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Limoges 1841-1919 Cagnes-sur-Mer) Composition, Paysages et Fleurs, circa 1910 Oil on canvas 15 x 25.5 cm Initial R bottom left Certificate of authenticity from the Wildenstein Institute n°24.05.29/21585 dated 12 June 2024 Provenance: private collection, France

 

Victor Werner

constant permeke

Constant Permeke (Antwerp 1886-1952 Ostend) Head of farmer, 1926 Oil on canvas 80 x 55 cm Signed 'Permeke' lower right Bears a label on the reverse that likely indicates the artwork was part of an exhibition organised with the support or involvement of the Belgian Ministry of Public Education at the time

 

Pelgrims de Bigard

frans francken the younger

Frans Francken the Younger (Antwerp, 1581-1642) Death and the Miser Oil on copper 21.9 x 16.9 cm Certificate of authenticity by Dr. Ursula Härting

 

Galerie Haesaerts-le Grelle

Gustave Serrurier-Bovy (Liège, 1858-1910) Silex linen cupboard, circa 1905 Poplar, blue stencils and blue-painted iron H 192 x W 70 x D 45 cm Provenance: Villa de L’Aube, collection of Gustave Serrurier-Bovy, Soyeur-Delvoye Literature: Jacques-Grégoire Watelet, Gustave Serrurier-Bovy, Éditions Beaunord, Paris, 1989, p. 87 Built between 1902 and 1905 on the Cointe hill in Liège, the Villa de L’Aube was the personal home of Gustave Serrurier, a true manifesto of his conception of architecture. He lived there until his death in 1910. Intended for the children’s and staff’s bedrooms, the Silex furniture was made of poplar, assembled with simple iron screws, and decorated - some of it - with painted stencils. First appearing at the Château de La Cheyrelle in 1904, Gustave Serrurier would go on to incorporate the Silex furniture into the layout of his own house. This linen cupboard was part of the original furnishings of the villa.

 

Klaas Muller

Christ on the Cross Sculpted and carved ivory Flanders, 17th century H 32 x W 18.5 x D 5.3 cm Provided with a European CITES certificate

 

Galerie Lowet de Wotrenge

frans pourbus the elder (bruges 1545/46 - 1581 antwerp)

Frans Pourbus the Elder (Bruges 1545-1581 Antwerp) Portrait of Peeter van Panhuys, alderman and treasurer of Antwerp, 1562 Oil on oak panel 105 x 75 cm Dated upper left 'A°. 1562' and inscribed below the date ‘Aetat: 34’ Provenance: private collection, Belgium Literature: R. Willmott, Antwerp and the Golden Age: Culture, Conflict and Commerce, Unicorn, 2025 (ill.) In an era when wealth and power increasingly resided not in hereditary titles but in commerce and banking, Frans I Pourbus captured the self-assured gaze of the new elite. This striking portrait depicts Peeter van Panhuys - merchant, banker's agent, and future treasurer of Antwerp - at a pivotal moment in his rise through one of Europe's most dynamic commercial centers. The work's contemporary resonance is unmistakable. Van Panhuys embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that still defines global finance, yet his story also reflects our modern anxieties: barely two decades after this portrait was painted, religious conflict forced him to flee Antwerp as a refugee, abandoning everything he had built. His biography encapsulates the precariousness of prosperity in times of social upheaval - a theme that speaks powerfully to today's world of political instability and forced migration. Pourbus renders his subject with remarkable psychological acuity. The prominent gold chain and exquisitely detailed black doublet announce van Panhuys' status, while the crisp white ruff - painted with virtuosic precision - frames a face of penetrating intelligence. In his left hand, he holds a pair of gloves, a refined accessory that signals his gentlemanly aspirations and membership in Antwerp's sophisticated mercantile elite. Recently rediscovered from a Belgian private collection, the sitter's identity is confirmed through his appearance in Maerten de Vos's monumental family portrait at the Mauritshuis, where van Panhuys stands among the interconnected dynasties that dominated Antwerp's Golden Age. This painting invites us to reconsider the origins of our modern world - built not by kings and generals, but by ambitious merchants whose portraits demanded the same dignity once reserved for nobility.

 

Cabinet of Curiosities - Honourable Silver Objects

Silver-gilt tazza Mark D possibly for Isaac Dighton or Deighton William and Mary period, London, 1691 Family coat of arms of the 2nd Earl of Petersborough, Henry Mordaunt Ø 29.5 cm Weight: 887 g Provenance: private collection, Belgium

 

Stéphane Renard Fine Art

Workshop of Benedetto da Maiano (Maiano 1442-1497 Florence) Bas-relief of the Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist as a child Polychrome and gilded stucco in its original carved and gilded wooden frame H 76 x W 64 x D 13 cm (framed) Provenance: Coat of arms with the alliance arms of two Florentine families: the Compagni (on the left) and the Tornaquinci (on the right) We can estimate that around thirty copies of this bas-relief were probably made, half of which are in public collections (including the Bode Museum in Berlin (Germany – Inv. 1581), the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (United Kingdom – two copies), the Bargello and Stefano Bardini Museums in Florence (Italy), and the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg (Russia) but this one is the only one bearing the coat of arms of its commissioners.

 

Desmet Fine Arts

Pietra dura table top Coloured marble, alabaster and onyx Roman workshop, circa 1565-1600 H 6 x W 104.5 x D 83 cm Accompanied by Art Loss Register certificate: S00253658 Provenance: private collection, Lombardy (Italy) The pietra dura tabletop represents a symbiosis that evokes the rediscovery of the ancient world. The colored marbles used all originate from ancient Roman marble, brought to Rome from across the Roman Empire as early as the 3rd century BCE. In late 16th-century Rome, artists repurposed columns and all manner of these ancient Roman artifacts, reshaping them into sumptuous tabletops to decorate the grand palazzi. This work visualizes how 16th-century Rome sought to reclaim the identity and power of the great Roman Empire, and it must be fully understood within the context of the decoration of St. Peter’s Basilica, when Rome was once again regarded as the center of the world. The patterns are architecturally and geometrically designed to showcase the rarest marbles to their fullest effect. In this specific example, around 1800, the edge underwent restoration, during which the finest artists of the time added a black decorative band. Their aim was to frame what was already spectacular with a dignified restoration. Although created in the late 16th century, this piece radiates two millennia of superiority—politically, socially, artistically, and art historically.

 

Hoffmans Antiques

A Gustavian console table Stockholm, circa 1790 Gilt wood, Carrara marble H 83.5 x W 110 x D 54 cm This console table belongs to a small yet exclusive group of furniture of the highest class, preserved mainly within the royal collections. The model relates to drawings by Louis Masreliez (Paris 1748-1810 Sweden). The table was likely made by his brother, Jean-Baptiste (Stockholm, 1753-1801), or possibly by Pehr Ljung (Stockholm, 1743-1819). The decoration is masterfully carved in wood with exceptional precision. A vine motif runs along the apron, while the frieze above the front legs is adorned with palmette leaves and volutes. The table rests on six tapering, fluted legs and is crowned with a Carrara marble top.

 

Galerie Lowet de Wotrenge

david vinckboons (mechelen 1576 - 1629 amsterdam)

David Vinckboons (Mechelen 1576-1629 Amsterdam) The Triumph of Bacchus Pen and brown ink and grey wash over black chalk, within brown ink framing lines on laid paper 68 x 114 mm Provenance: Dr. Einar Perman (1893-1976), Stockholm; by descent to the previous owners; sale, New York, Sotheby's, 31 January 2024, lot 104 Literature: Laren, Singer Museum, Oude Tekeningen uit de Nederlanden. Verzameling Prof. E. Perman, Stockholm, 1962, cat. n° 121 (as Adriaen van de Venne)

 

Van Herck-Eykelberg

René Magritte (Lessiness 1898-1967 Brussels) Untitled (1945 - 1946) Coloured crayons on paper 23.2 cm x 30.3 cm Signed lower left With certificate from the comité Magritte Literature: Whitfield, S., René Magritte. Newly discovered works. Catalogue Raisonné VI. Menil Foundation, Houston, Mercatorfonds, Brussel, Magritte Foundation, Brussel. Cat. VI.76. Ill. p. 105, 158; Torczyner, H., René Magritte. Tekens en beelden. Amsterdam, Meulenhoff/Landshoff, 1988, ill. p. 108 Exhibition: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, 1970

 

Galerie Christophe Gaillard

richard nonas

Richard Nonas (USA Brooklyn 1936-2021 New York) Unsigned, non dated Wood H 36.2 x W 44.5 x D 9.5 cm Provenance: the artist's studio, New York Exhibition: Richard Nonas, CAB, Brussels, 2024

 

Victor Werner

thierry van ryswyck

Thierry Van Ryswyck (Antwerp 1911-1958 Vallauris, France) Walking panther, 1929 Patinated plaster H 53 x W 133.5 cm x D 23 cm Name and address of the mould maker inscribed on the underside of the base: A. Hoefnagels, mouleur, Quai Cockerill 19, Anvers Signed and dated Th. Van Ryswyck 1929 Provenance: private collection

 

unforget Decorative Arts

fulvio bianconi

Fulvio Bianconi (Padua 1915-1996 Milan) 'Sirena' vase model 4201 Designed in 1950, manufactured by Venini Murano, Italy Blown glass in amber color, iridescent, decoration in white glass called lattimo H 30.5 x W 20 x D 10 cm Acid signed on the reverse on 4 lines 'venini murano MADE IN ITALY' Provenance: Sotheby's London, Design, 16 October 2018, lot 88 Literature: Marc Heiremans, Art Glass from Murano 1910-1970, Stuttgart, 1993, p. 270, fig. 223 Franco Deboni, VENINI GLASS: Its history, artists and techniques, Volume I, Turin, 2007, n.p. for a drawing of the model in the Venini ‘Red’ catalogue; Franco Deboni, VENINI GLASS: Catalogue 1921-2007, Volume II, Turin, 2007, pl. 193; Marino Barovier, ed., FULVIO BIANCONI AT VENINI, exh. cat., Le Stanze del Vetro, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, 2015, p. 16 for a sketch from the Venini ‘Black’ notebook, p. 25 possibly illustrates the present lot, pp. 130, 144, 156 In 1950, Bianconi created a series of glass sculptures, some representing marine subjects (mermaids and fish) in a playful manner, and others exploring the theme of the female body. Several of these pieces were successfully exhibited at the major traveling exhibition Italy at Work, organized in the United States between 1950 and 1953. Many of these sculptures are characterized by a technique of applying 'lattimo' threads that stand out on a transparent surface. Other sculptures feature Phoenician decorations which, like 'lattimo' decorations, are also used on vases with soft baselines.

 

De Jonckheere

pieter brueghel the younger

Pieter Brueghel the Younger (Brussels 1564-1638 Antwerp) The Payment of the Tithe or the Village Lawyer, 1622 Oil on panel 78.9 x 123.2 cm Signed and dated: P. BREVGHEL, 1622 Provenance: private collection, Belgium; Galerie Legenhoek, Paris, 1991; private collection, France Literature: Ertz, Klaus, Pieter Brueghel der Jüngere: Die Gemälde mit kritischem Oeuvrekatalog, Lingen, Luca Verlag, Vol. I, 2000, p. 513, cat. E 507, repr.; Curie, Christina, Allart, Dominique, The Brue[H]el Phenomenon, Brussels, Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, vol. III, p. 1030-1031 This Payment of the Tithe, or The Village Lawyer, is marked by Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s verve, meticulous execution, and vibrant colours. The satirical subject mocks the profession of the lawyer responsible for collecting the heavy tax that the poorest peasants struggled to pay. The grotesque faces of the petitioners, as well as the lawyer’s prognathous jaw - associating him with the Spanish authorities then in power - fascinate through their caricatural force. This original composition by Pieter Brueghel the Younger stimulated the market of the time, generating strong demand. The success of this still-relevant satire has endured to the present day.

 

Galerie la Ménagerie

jacques froment-meurice

Jacques Froment-Meurice (Paris 1864-1946 Maisons-Lafitte) Bucking donkey, circa 1904 Model from 'Les gestes d'Ânes' Bronze A. A Hébrard foundry H 14.5 x W 18 x D 9 cm Signed on the base Provenance: collection New York, USA Literature: A strong love of all animals, but particularly of domestic breeds, especially donkeys, is evident in the character that Froment-Meurice captures in all his intimate portraits. Cast by Hebrard, they are always of the highest quality, Edward Horswell, Sculpture of Les Animaliers, 1900-1950, Scala Arts and Heritage Publishers Ltd, 2019, p. 136

 

rodolphe janssen

sanam khatibi

Sanam Khatibi (Iran, 1979) Outgoing call, 2025 Oil on panel 13.2 x 21.5 cm 22.2 x 30.5 cm (framed)

 

Gilden's Art Gallery

Gino Severini (Italy, Cortona 1883-1966 Paris, France) The dancer, 1959 Tempera painting on wove paper 39.5 x 28.5 cm Signed lower right 'G. Severini' and dedicated in pencil ‘al caro vecchio amico Raffaele Carrieri, affectuoso riccordi di Gino Severini’ [to a dear old friend Raffaelle Carrieri, with affectionate memories, Gino Severini] in the lower right corner The work comes with a photo-certificate of authenticity by Romana Severini Brunori dated 13 May 2025 Provenance: the celebrated poet Raffaele Carrieri (1905-1984); private collection, Milan

 

Franck Anelli Fine Art

charles topino

Charles Topino (Arras, circa 1742-1803) Louis XVI period demi-lune commode, circa 1780 Oak, Parisian varnish, gilt-bronze mounts, Aleppo breccia marble top H 91 x W 131 x D 58 cm Stamped 'C. TOPINO' and 'JME', with a CD mark Provenance: private collection, Paris Literature: Forray-Carlier et M. Kopplin, Les secrets de la laque française: Le Vernis Martin, Paris, 2014 This demi-lune commode is decorated with chinoiserie motifs in gold on a green background,. It opens with two side doors and three drawers. The gold chinoiserie decoration on green varnish is quite rare, especially on Louis XVI furniture. The chinoiserie theme is executed here in a decorative style from the 1780s, with framed scenes surrounded by tied garlands. This exotic theme remained in vogue during the Louis XVI period, as evidenced by the lacquered Japanese furniture favoured by Marie-Antoinette, as well as the marquetry furniture by Roentgen. Jean Pillement (1728-1808) popularised chinoiserie designs through his 1776 book 'Œuvres de Fleurs, ornements, cartouches et figures et sujets chinois…etc.,' which spread throughout the courts of Europe. The green varnish décor is especially known for works by René Dubois, such as the small demi-lune commode housed at Waddesdon Manor in England (Inv. WI/23/2). René Dubois, however, was more inclined towards neoclassical scenes, a style that is well-documented in his stock from 1772, which lists around twenty pieces, thus helping to date his production. At this time, the workshop of the Frères Martin was still active, with Jean-Alexandre, the son of Robert Martin, having taken over his father’s workshop in 1767 and acquired that of his cousin Etienne-François in 1772, following his cousin's death the year before. It is clear that Jean-Alexandre benefited from the strong connections his family had with Parisian marchand-merciers and cabinetmakers, one of the most renowned of whom was Charles Topino. This production unfortunately did not survive the French Revolution, and this commode is one of the last examples of this inventive period. Charles Topino settled in Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine and counted aristocratic clients and marchand-ébénistes such as Delorme and Tuart amongst his customers. His pieces were described as 'à l'antique,' an expression referring to the neoclassical taste that dominated the late 18th century. His journal, covering the years 1771 to 1779, has survived, providing insight into the names of bronziers who supplied him, including Jean-Baptiste Dubuisson, a master founder since 1765, who created some of the finest bronze mounts of the period. It is known that the gilt bronze mounts adorning Topino’s furniture were cast by Viret, chased by Chamboin and Dubuisson, and gilded by Bécard, Gérard, and Vallet. Charles Topino produced several demi-lune commodes of this type, many decorated with marquetry and several with varnish decorations. Notable examples include: -A commode from the Prince Radziwill collection, sold at the Château d'Ermenonville auction, Ader study, March 8th, 1933 -A writing desk sold by Christie's London from the Rechnitzer collection, May 19th, 1955, illustrated in Connaissance des Arts n° 41, July 15th, 1955 -A writing desk decorated with European black and gold varnish in the Chinese style, sold at Paris’s Hôtel Drouot, Cornette de Saint-Cyr study, January 31st, 1994 -A writing desk with Coromandel lacquer decoration, from the Princess A. de Broglie collection, ill. in P. Verlet, Les ébénistes du XVIIIe siècle français, Connaissance des arts, Hachette, Paris, 1963, p. 268

 
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