Russia: Pair Of Blue Opaline Vases, Early 19th Century.

Majestic pair of blue opaline vases decorated with a gilt bronze mount, probably Russian work from the early 19th century. The ample silhouette of each vase recalls the shape of antique vases as do the anthropomorphic handles representing zeus-hammon. The intense turquoise hue of the opaline, of aquatic purity, evokes the serenity of deep lakes or the sky of the great steppes. The contrast between the smooth opaline and the richness of the bronze creates a mixture between the refinement of man's work and the poetry of nature. The flared edges are encircled by a finely chiseled frieze. The pedestal, wide and stable, rests on a circular base decorated with a relief decoration reproducing iconography similar to the edges, in a harmonious dialogue between the robustness of the bronze and the lightness of nature. On the sides, two spectacular handles represent zeus-hammon. Zeus Ammon is a deity resulting from the fusion between the Greek god Zeus and the Egyptian god Amon. This religious syncretism developed in particular after the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great, and served to bring Greek and Egyptian cultures closer together under the Hellenistic empires. Conditions: in good condition Dimensions: Height: 27.7 cm Diameter at the neck: 17.2 cm Diameter at the base: 15.5 cm