H. Dasson, Pair Of Covered Vases “with Lions”, France, Circa 1880

Beautiful pair of green marble covered vases, set in an elegant chiseled and gilded bronze mount, decorated with lion heads alternating with garlands of flowers. The molded lid is topped with a finial in the shape of a grenade. They rest on five clawed feet ending with balls.

The model of these vases is inspired by a drawing by the famous designer and ornemanist Jean Bérain (1640-1711).
The Louvre Museum has a pair of Spain pink brocatelle vases, dated around 1840-1860, inspired by the model by Jean Bérain (OA 5065 1 and 2)

As a cabinet-maker and a bronze-caster, Henry Dasson (1825-1896) executed in his Paris workshop sumptuous copies of royal 18^th century models and some pieces of his own modified 18^th century design. He used for his pieces of furniture and « objets d’art » the very finest ormolu mounts with high quality mercurial gilding. He purchased the firm of the cabinet-maker Charles Winckelsen upon his death in 1871 and mainly produced in the Louis XV and Louis XVI style. His participation at the Paris 1878 Universal Exhibition was highly remarked with a Louis XVI style table, all in bronze and considered as a « chasing masterpiece », and a copy of the famous King Louis XV desk (original piece exhibited at the Versailles Castle). At the 1889 Universal Exhibition, he won a « Grand Prix » for his beautiful furniture.