With four drawers above a medial shelf, curved legs, decorated on all sides with exotic birds, old French printed paper label ‘[Maison de L'Escalier de Cristal]/Pannier-Lahoche & Cie, 1, Rue Auber & Rue Scribe, 6 [En face e Grand Opera]’ Escalier de Cristal in the tradition of the 18th century marchand merciers, was founded in 1802 by Widow Barthelmey Desarnaud. It was taken over from 1830 and by 1852 was run by Pierre-Isidore Lahoche and his son-in-law, Emile-Augstin Pannier. The store operated from the address on this label from 1872. Escalier de Cristal produced small furniture and luxury objects, and at this time these were often Asian in style,, as seen here, to reflect the taste of the time.