The European Decorative Arts Company, located in Gallery #6 at The Manhattan Art & Antiques Center discloses the purchase of several significant works of art from their collections by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Amber Museum in Gdansk, Poland.

The Metropolitan Museum has acquired a signed pair of F. Barbedienne gilt-bronze and champlevé enamel three light candelabra, 25” high, French, circa 1875. Designed in the gothic revival style, the pair exhibits a combination of high quality cast bronze with champlevé enamel in a vibrant turquoise, green, red and yellow botanical design. The Barbedienne foundry utilized this innovative technique from approximately 1860 to the early 20th century.

This pair of Barbedienne candelabra marks the seventh purchase by the Met from The European Decorative Arts Company. Other purchases include a 17th century ivory carving, a wood book cover by Fourdinois and an enamel plate by Grandhomme and Garnier.

The Amber Museum in Gdansk, Poland has acquired an Amber casket, 4” high x 5” in length; originally made in Gdansk, circa 1680-90. The casket is decorated in the intaglio technique (designs engraved on the reverse) with individual panels that depict small castles on an island. The top is adorned with a lozenge-shaped panel, which portrays a walkway bridge over water and a lone figure walking. The smaller panels are ornamented with arabesques. The toothed form of the hinges is characteristic of metalwork done in the late 17th century.

The Met purchased the Barbedienne candelabra in July and the Amber Museum finalized the sale of the amber casket in December 2008.

Scott Defrin, gallery owner, has a master’s degree in the History of Decorative Arts from the Cooper-Hewitt Museum and is an authority on Barbedienne works. “The decorative art production of Barbedienne has enormous potential for the new collector,” says Scott, “as their objects are still relatively affordable.” He continues, “Whether someone is interested in bronze objects, enamels or a combination of both, there is substantial inventory of high quality and unique examples in the marketplace.”

European Decorative Arts Company, founded in 1996, is known for its fine collections of European ivory carvings, objets de vertu and decorative carriage clocks. They have sold to museums, collectors and dealers worldwide.

The Manhattan Art & Antiques Center, 1050 Second Ave. (between 55th & 56th Sts.) Tel: 212-355-4400. New York’s largest antique center, housing over 100 galleries on three city block levels with varied collections from America, Europe, Africa and Asia. They specialize in fine furniture, silver, jewelry, tapestries, paintings, clocks and many other objects of art.

 

European Decorative Arts Company • Tel: (212)-750-1337
www.eurodecart.net • email: eurodecart@aol.com
The Manhattan Art & Antiques Center, 1050 Second Ave., NYC
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10:30AM to 6PM, Sunday Noon to 6