Adam's Fine Asian Art Preview 23 November 2021

26 AN ORMOULU-MOUNTED CAFÉ-AU-LAIT GLAZED SCHOLAR WATER DROPPER AND BRUSH WASHER THE PORCELAIN, CHINA, QING DYNASTY AND LIKELY 18TH CENTURY THE REFINED ORMOULU MOUNT BY ESCALIER DE CRISTAL, PARIS, 19TH CENTURY This delicate scholar piece with a double function, i.e. to drop water to dilute the ink and to wash the brush, is made of café-au-lait glazed porcelain and shaped as a fungus. Its top is adorned with a three-dimensional flower bud. Next to it is a small hole. The ormoulu mount has been tailored made to fit the piece, i.e. the double-gourd shaped below is all covered with a plaque while there are two flowers to the side. The below of the piece is engraved with the name of the marchand mercier whom created the mount: “Escalier de Cristal”. H: 5 cm – L: 9 cm – w: 9 cm €3,000 - 6,000 NOTES: 1. Water droppers and brush washer are some of the so-called Scholar’s Objects and where us as part of the calligraphy process. 2. L’Escalier de Cristal, Parisian firm created about 1800 by Mme veuve Desarnaud, famous under the French « Restoration » for its decorative objects combining crystal and bronze. She was awarded a gold medal at the 1819 Paris Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie for an outstanding gilt-bronze mounted crystal dressing table. Located in Paris, at the Palais-Royal, Galerie de Valois, L’Escalier de Cristal was bought out around 1830 by Boin, and then by Lahoche in 1840. The company owed its rise to a position amongst the most important Paris decorative wares shops to Lahoche, who expanded consider- ably the business and entered later in partnership with his son-in-law to set up in 1852 Lahoche et Pannier. In 1872 Emile Pannier led alone the firm, and then his sons from 1885 to 1923, whom gave the name of Pannier Frères to the company, located at the corner of Scribe and Auber streets, next to the new built Paris Opera house. L’Escalier de Cristal was several times awarded medals at the various International Exhibitions held in Paris, London and New York, and for instance a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition. Numerous artists, such Emile Gallé, Louis Majorelle and Gabriel Viardot worked for the L’Escalier de Cristal’s woldwide renown, and introduced then some of their greatest Japanese style cre- ations (adorned with « cloisonné » enamels, Japanese motifs, etc.).