Pair Of Neptune-motif Fire Tongs, Gilded Bronze, Signed G. Viardot, Louis XV Style, Napoleon III Period

Gabriel Viardot began his career as a woodcarver in 1849, when he submitted several pieces of furniture with naturalistic decoration to the horticultural exhibition. At the time, he was leading a small team of carvers even though he was only 19 years old.

By 1853, he owned a furniture factory and store located at 36 and 38 Rue Rambuteau. At that time, he worked with his brother, Louis Gustave, under the name “Viardot Frères et C^ie.” He married in 1854.

In 1860, he established his own workshop, “G. Viardot,” at 5 Rue du Grand-Chantier, and took over the family business, which he ran until 1872. He decided to devote himself to “Chinese-Japanese-style furniture,” which he had seen, in particular, at the 1867 World’s Fair. At that same exhibition, he was awarded four medals. It was for this work that he was awarded a silver medal at the 1878 World’s Fair. In 1875, he created a set of display cases to showcase Clémence d’Ennery’s collection of Far Eastern art in her mansion on Avenue Foch, which would later become the d’Ennery Museum.

He subsequently worked successively at 15 Rue du Chaume, 3 Rue des Archives in 1878, and 36 Rue Amelot toward the end of the century. His furniture was crafted using lacquered and relief-carved panels shipped directly from China or Japan and adorned with mother-of-pearl inlays from Tonkin. He embellished them with ornamental bronzes, all of which he designed himself. Over the years, his success continued to grow, particularly at the exhibitions in Nice and at the 8^e exhibition of the Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs in 1884. In 1885, he participated in the 1885 World’s Fair in Antwerp, where he won another gold medal. At that time, the company employed 90 to 100 workers, including sculptors and cabinetmakers, many of whom had been trained directly by Gabriel Viardot. Following this exhibition, he was promoted to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor (December 29, 1885)^[2].

He participated in the 1889 Paris World’s Fair and was awarded a gold medal. He received the same award at the 1900 World’s Fair.

He is buried at Père-Lachaise Cemetery (16th division).

The Japanese Pavilion at the 1867 World’s Fair reintroduced the French to Japan and sparked a great craze. L'Escalier de Cristal, a Parisian department store run by brothers Georges and Henry Pannier, inspired Parisian cabinetmakers to produce furniture in the Japanese-inspired style. Gabriel Viardot offered his furniture to famous stores, which would distribute a large portion of his production^[3].

• 4 medals at the 1867 World’s Fair
• Silver medal at the 1878 World’s Fair
• Gold medal at the 1889 Paris World’s Fair
• Gold medal at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair.