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L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

French

Dating back to the Bourbon Restoration in France and the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, l’Escalier de Cristal (the Crystal Staircase) was founded by Madame Veuve Désarnaud as the first company to offer decorative objects made from crystal and gilded bronze. The firm was located in the Palais Royal in Paris, opposite the Louvre. It grew through a series of owners to become the gold standard for reproductions of 18th-century furniture — so perfect they were often mistaken for originals.

Désarnaud won numerous awards for her creations, including a gold medal at the 1819 Paris Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie Française for a dressing table featuring her signature bronze-crystal combination. A tailor named Boin bought the company around 1830; he in turn sold it to Pierre-Isidore Lahoche in 1840. Lahoche’s son-in-law, Émile Pannier, joined in a partnership in 1952 before Émile’s sons took over in 1885, establishing Pannier Frères. The company ceased commercial production in 1923.

Starting as early as the 1860s, there was a growing appetite for Japanese-style furniture, thanks in large part to the Japanese pavilion at the International Exposition of 1867. Henry Pannier reimagined some of the company’s designs to meet this new demand. The stylized furniture was a huge success and earned the company many awards, including the gold medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Others who contributed to this stylistic trend included French artist Émile Gallé, French glassmaker and ceramicist François-Eugène Rousseau, French furniture designer Louis Majorelle and French cabinetmaker Gabriel Viardot.

Henry Pannier made a constant effort to sketch each object the company sold and record it in his notebooks. Over 50 years, he recorded 2,800 furniture designs, each with its own name, date of sale and price. On some pieces, l’Escalier de Cristal signed the models, adding a layer of authenticity and distinction for today’s collectors. 

Museums around the world have collected pieces from l’Escalier de Cristal, including the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. 

On 1stDibs, find a collection of l’Escalier de Cristal decorative objects, vases, desk accessories and more.

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Item Ships From: Europe
Creator: L'Escalier de Cristal
Series of Four Louis XVI Style Wall Lights with Parrots, After 1885
By Edmé Samson, L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This series of four gilt bronze wall lights featuring a porcelain parrot was made for l’Escalier De Cristal after 1885, year during which Henry and Georges Pannier start to manage th...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Japonisme Style Porcelaine Planter Signed L'Escalier de Cristal 19th C
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
Exquisite square planter in the Japonisme style. The whole planter is structured on bamboo-style edges. Each face is decorated with flowers and leaves on a vivid blue background/ Ea...
Category

Late 19th Century French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Table by L'Escalier de Cristal
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in London, GB
This superb piece is an antique ormolu mounted Louis XV style table, masterfully crafted with kingwood, tulipwood, and parquetry, by the famed Parisian firm L'Escalier de Cristal. Th...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Marble

19th Century Napoleon III Side Table, Maison L'Escalier de Cristal Paris
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined side table made of burr walnut veneer on an oak base, with elegant tapered legs, at the ending gilt bronze clawfeet. The table has extra server drawers on both sides. Around the top a copper rim. The table is stamped on the bottom: Maison L'Escalier de Cristal Paris...
Category

1870s French Napoleon III Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century, French Mahogany Coffee Table by Escalier de Cristal
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in IT
19th century, French mahogany coffee table by Escalier de Cristal Paris, second half of the 19th century Dimensions: cm L 46 x P 33 x H 68 The...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Rare Japanese Style Planter by L'Escalier de Cristal, France, Circa 1880
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in PARIS, FR
This circular planter in enamel ceramic, by L'Escalier de crystal, is embellished with a floral and vegetal polychrome décor upon a celestial blue ...
Category

1880s French Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Famille Rose Qianlong Period Enamel Inkwell by L'Escalier de Cristal C.1880
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A Famille Rose Painted Enamel inkwell set Qianlong Period (1736-1795) by l’Escalier de Cristal It consists of a fretworked tray with raised edges in blackened wood surrounded by a fine gilded bronze ring, on which rests two Famille Rose Qianlong Period (1736-1795) hexagonal inkwells with pierced tops, one with original glass container, decorated with polychrome stylised flower heads and foliate scrollwork. This inkwell is characteristic of the productions of the Maison de l'Escalier de Cristal, it shows a hybrid realization, using ancient Asian elements, used as a container for feathers and ink. Stamped «Escalier de Cristal Paris» Circa 1880 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 im-portant Paris decorative wares shops to Lahoche, who expanded considerably the business and entered later in partnership with his son-in-law to set up in 1852 Lahoche et Pannier...
Category

1870s French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Enamel

Related Items
Maison Mercier Paris folding table in tortoise shell lucite and brass, 1970
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Located in Saint Rémy de Provence, FR
Maison Mercier Paris folding table in tortoise shell lucite and brass, 1970 Very good condition 55 x 44 x 6 cm
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1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

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French Napoleon III Serving Table or Side Table Walnut and Brass, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
Napoleon III walnut and brass serving table, French This can also be used as a side table. One drawer and two shelves circa 1880 Good antique condition. Shipping: L42 P33 ...
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Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

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Brass

Victorian Porcelain Spittoon, circa 1880 by Imari, Japan
Located in Incline Village, NV
The mark on the underneath (see image) indicates that this spittoon is of Japanese Imari porcelain, manufactured circa 1880, and made specifically for the American market for the preponderance of bars and saloons at that time. These were popular from 1865 to the turn of the century; this is a particularly fancy and elaborate example. Note the copious and highly detailed and beautiful floral decoration to the inside of the upper portion of the spittoon; pretty fancy for something meant for spit and saliva! Fantastic and all original condition with no cracks, no chips and very bright paint in sharp colors of blue rust and pink, and meticulously painted in a floral pattern. Several of these would have been “stationed” in strategic places within a saloon. This is a wonderful piece of porcelain, and quality item of saloon and Western United States history...
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Large Louis XV Style Giltwood Wall Lights
By La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
Exceptionally crafted, very large, Louis XV Style, pair of hand-carved wall lights. Hand Gilded in antique gold finish. Featuring traditional motifs of musical instruments, laurel le...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Louis XV L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Wood, Giltwood

Large Louis XV Style Giltwood Wall Lights
Large Louis XV Style Giltwood Wall Lights
H 48.04 in W 21.26 in D 12.21 in
English Majolica Bamboo Planter and Stand, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
English Victorian Majolica bamboo planter and stand, circa 1880.
Category

1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Four Louis XVI Style Jasperware and Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
By Maison Beurdeley, Henri Vian
Located in London, GB
These exquisite wall lights were created in the late 19th century by the famous bronzier, Henri Vian (French, 1860-1905). These wall lights are stamped ‘HV 955’ for Henri Vian, along with ‘BY’ for the prestigious Beurdeley furniture-making workshop (French, founded 1818). Vian purchased several bronze models that were created by Beurdeley when the company closed in 1895. These lights were most likely cast from a Beurdeley model. Typical of both Beurdeley’s and Vian’s work, these lights are designed in an 18th century Louis XVI (Neoclassical) style. The wall lights feature gilt bronze (ormolu) backplates which are designed to look like ribbons, tied in bows and ending in tassels. These ribbons support gilt bronze oval frames...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Porcelaine de Paris - Empire Centerpiece Reticulated Coupe
By Porcelaine de Paris
Located in DELFT, NL
Gilt Porcelaine de Paris Openwork Coupe Centerpiece to be placed centrally on the table, for fruit or flowers. Empire Style. French, 19th century center basket, rond form with reticu...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Classical 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Wall Lights
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of late 19th century gilded Ormolu three branch wall lights, each with classical two handled urns and scrolling foliate swags, in the Louis XVI style. Measures: 6...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Squirrel Plate signed R.S. & Co.
By RS Associates
Located in New York, NY
Rare and whimsical antique squirrel transferware plate over an off white background with a gold leaf scallop trim. Beautifully executed and a great pi...
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Late 19th Century English Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

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Ceramic, Porcelain

19th Century Original Black Painted Claw Foot Pedestal Coffee Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This cool round pedestal coffee table has the original cast iron casters below the hand-carved claw feet. Some call them tiger paw feet and is in gre...
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19th Century American Country Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Wood

Porcelaine de Paris 19th Century Floral Dish Set with Casserole and Plates
By Porcelaine de Paris
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Porcelaine de Paris dish set from the 19th century, with floral décor. Created in France during the 19th century, this Paris Porcelain dish set at...
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19th Century French Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

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Porcelain

Antique French Specimen Wood Louis XV Marquetry Ormolu Round Tilt-Top Table 1870
By Joseph Cremer
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine antique French Louis XV style, circular tilt-top marquetry pedestal tripod table, with gilt bronze ormolu mounts, attributed to Joseph Cremer circa 1870. The round rosew...
Category

1870s French Louis XV Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Previously Available Items
Baccarat Crystal Box mounted Sterling Silver on dish by "Escalier de Cristal"
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
Extremely rare Baccarat engraved crystal square box with his square under dish mounted with a sterling silver frame. Set realized by l'Escalier de Cristal, signed in the back. Baccar...
Category

20th Century French Art Nouveau L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Silver

Aesthetic Mouvement Cache-Pot by L'Escalier de Cristal, circa 1870-75
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An Aesthetic Mouvement mini Cache-Pot Polychromed enamelled and Gilt hand-painted porcelain on a turquoise blue ground simulating Japanese cloisonné enamels with Japonisme design o...
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1870s French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Enamel

Escalier de Cristal Gilt Bronze and Carrara Marble Clock, France, 19th Century
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Stockholm, SE
An important and large late 19th century gilt bronze and Carrara marble clock. The gilt bronze and marble clock case signed by Escalier de Cristal, Paris and clockwork by Dupuis a Pa...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

Gilt Bronze Mirrored Plateau by L'Escalier de Cristal
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
This French plateau by L'Escalier de Cristal showcases exquisite ormolu bronze work. Intricately adorned with openwork decoration including grape v...
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Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

"Escalier De Cristal" Bracquemond Design Earthenware 2 Dinner Plates, circa 1878
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
This original and rare French Fine faience service was edited by "Escalier De crystal" circa 1878, after Bracquemond astonishing designs inspired b...
Category

1870s French Aesthetic Movement Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Rare "Escalier De Cristal" Bracquemond Design, 2 Dessert Plates, circa 1878
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
This original and rare French fine faience service was edited by "Escalier De Cristal" circa 1878, after Bracquemond astonishing designs inspired by Japonism following Paris Universa...
Category

1870s French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

"Escalier De Cristal" Bracquemond design, set of 2 Dessert Plates, circa 1878
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
This original and rare French fine faience service was edited by "Escalier De Crystal" circa 1878, after Bracquemond astonishing designs inspired b...
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1870s French Aesthetic Movement Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Remarkable and Rare Dinner Plates "Escalier De Cristal", Set of 2, circa 1878
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
This original and rare French fine faience service was edited by "Escalier De crystal" circa 1878, Bracquemond did astonishing designs inspired by ...
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1870s French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Remarkable and Rare Dinner Plates "Escalier De Cristal", Set of 2, circa 1878
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
This original and rare French fine faience service after Bracquemond astonishing designs inspired by Japonism was edited by "Escalier De crystal", ...
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1870s French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Japonisme Crystal Vase, Ormolu Mount by Maison Baccarat for Escalier De Cristal
By Cristalleries De Baccarat, Frères Pannier, L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Maison Baccarat for Maison Escalier de Cristal des Frères pannier A Japonisme design vase Hand carved Baccarat crystal and open-worked Ormolu mounts designed...
Category

1870s French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

"Escalier De Cristal" Choisy-Le-Roi Earthenware Deep Plates, circa 1878
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
This French fine faience service of eight deep plates after Bracquemond was edited by 'Escalier De crystal' circa 1878 , there are more than 24 different patterns all hand painted by...
Category

1870s French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

"Escalier De Cristal" Choisy-Le-Roi Earthenware Deep Plates, circa 1878
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
This French fine faience service of eight deep plates after Bracquemond was edited by 'Escalier De crystal', circa 1878, there are more than 24 different patterns all hand painted by...
Category

1870s French Japonisme Antique L'Escalier de Cristal Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

L'escalier De Cristal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

L'Escalier de Cristal furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of L'Escalier de Cristal furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by L'Escalier de Cristal were created in the louis xv style in france during the 19th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Boin-Taburet, Gervais Durand, and Samuel Marti. Prices for L'Escalier de Cristal furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,000 and can go as high as $161,538, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $7,899.

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