French Empire style gilt bronze urns with ram mask heads
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Faux - A French word meaning "false", but when used in decorative arts, the intention is not to deceive, but to simulate the decorative effects of the more expensive material it is imitating. The term " faux bois" meaning "false wood" refers to a furniture item that has been decorated with a marked grain (woodgrain finish) to imitate a more expensive timber.
- Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture. - Empire Style - The Empire style was a version of neo-classicism popular from 1800 to 1830, coinciding with the rule of Napoleon I from 1840-15. In England the style corrosponds with the Regency style and in the United States to the Federal style.
The style is inspired by classical Rome and Greece, as reflected in the decorative motifs in the the design such as paterae, guilloches, acanthus and swags, and pieces are lavishly decorated with applied gilded decoration.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
A pair of girandole gilt wood mirrors, French, 19th century, embellished with masks, shells and flower pods, with original plates, 78 cm high
A pair of antique ornate plaster frame girandole mirrors, with gilt finish and decorated with florals, swags and bows, a double candle sconce to each mirror, some damage, 34 cm x 52 cm
A c.1900 Art Nouveau 9ct. rose and yellow gold, opal and seed pearl pendant on chain, the large opal claw set cabochon opal of good blue, red, orange and grey tone. Weight 5.25ct., the open scrolling frame of heart form highlighted with 12 seed pearls, two
A late 19th century French gilt cushion mirror the oval plate banded by small plates within a scalloped frame surmounted by baskets of flowers and foliate. 130 cm high, 110 cm wide