What is crystal?   Crystal, known and crafted since Antiquity, is derived from glass. Mainly composed of silica, fluxes, and sometimes colored oxides, there are various techniques to make glass. The most

common is blown glass, example being Murano. In France, crystal has some specific elements. Such as in the Northern region, the glass contains potash from forests teeming with ferns and therefore

has yellowish or greenish reflections. In the South, it is more transparent due to the sodium hydroxide found in sand. Throughout history, (...) Read more

Fleeting profiles             Expertissim offers for sale a remarkable bronze equestrian statue. This unique, stunning and original work comes with three interchangeable heads.   The 19th century, Governments' ball, the waltzing heads!           Nineteenth century France

was marked by a period of institutional instability. Metaphorically, the country was ruled with the “waltz of emperors and kings”. Within less than hundred years, France experienced two Empires, the

Restoration of the Monarchy and two Republics. This constitutional ping-pong game is expressed in this sculpture for sale on Expertissim.             Three effigies (...) Read more

Sand, shells and plants are the main components of glass. This material is now popular and used daily. Since its discovery it has been exploited for various purposes such as

for precious objects, windows, containers, etc.  But glass has also been a material favored by artists, especially during the first two decades of the 20th century, periods known as Art

Nouveau and Art Deco. Glass vase Emile Gallé (1846-1904) presented by Expertissim.com   André Delatte (1887-1953) was one of those glass artists. André Delatte and (...) Read more

Baccarat, histoire d'une modernité   Les caractéristiques de la manufacture résident essentiellement dans ses facultés d’innovation et de modernisation d’une technique classique qui aurait pu autrement passer de mode. Il fallut d’abord

déployer des forces incomparables pour que la petite manufacture du village de Baccarat (Lorraine), dont l’ouverture demandée au roi Louis XV en 1764 par l’évêque de Metz Louis-Joseph de Montmorency-Laval,

deviennent un atelier du luxe. Il fallut la vendre aux enchères après la faillite de 1806 ; il fallut avoir les forces de (...) Read more

L’Antiquité, une source inépuisable d’inspiration                 Les deux plaques ovales et légèrement concaves personnifient deux empereurs de la dynastie Julio-Claudienne : Silvius Othon et Sergius Galba. Tous deux, avides de prestige

et de gloire, aspirent à conquérir le trône impérial de Néron. Cette ardeur politique ne sera satisfaite que par un soutien mutuel mais à l’issue funeste lorsque Silvius Othon assassine

Sergius Galba et sont fils Pison. C’est cette filiation funèbre qui est mise en valeur ici par la représentation conjointe et (...) Read more