A Cherub in the Belle Époque of Paris

A cherub is the central figure on this inkstand. He is surrounded by detailed, colorful designs created using the champlevé technique. Grooves are carved into the surface and filled with enamel to create colorful designs. The result here is stunning. Set in the shaped base with pierced shell border are two enameled inkwells with elaborate finials on the hinged lids.

Paris in the Belle Époque was a period in the history of the city between the years 1871 to 1914, from the beginning of the Third French Republic until the First World War. It saw the construction of the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Métro, the completion of the Paris Opera, and the beginning of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre.