Alphonse Giroux, Document Holder In Acid-etched Glass And Gilt Bronze, 19th Century

In 1799, François-Simon-Alphonse Giroux, nicknamed “the merchant of princes”, founded the house that bears his name. It manufactured luxury furniture and accessories for an aristocratic and bourgeois clientele. It was taken over by his children and took the name "Alphonse Giroux et Cie" until 1867, when management was taken over by Ferdinand Duvinage, cousin of Giroux fils, then by the widow Duvinage from 1874 to 1882. After a Final takeover by Philippe and Arnut, the store closed definitively in 1885. The company's activity was very diversified; among other things, she created numerous fantasy and writing objects, including this beautiful document holder. This presents a succession of five glass panels with flexible curves and increasing size, allowing various documents to be slipped inside each. The glass of each is engraved with a fine acid decoration: the first and the last, with a decoration of flowers and leaves; the dividers, decorated with dots. The side lenses are also engraved. Each glass plate is surrounded by a delicate gilded bronze rod. The whole rests on four turned legs. This exceptional object testifies to the delicacy of taste that spanned the 19th century. The left side glass plate has two cracks.