Large Porcelain Cup In The Sèvres Style And Gilded Bronze, Napoleon III Period.

An elegant centerpiece from the second half of the 19th century, this large bowl is distinguished by its Sèvres-style porcelain and its rich, finely chiseled gilt bronze mount, in a neoclassical style inspired by the reign of Louis XVI. The porcelain bowl features a magnificent kiln-blue enamel on the exterior, while the interior, under a white glaze, is adorned with a remarkably fine hand-painted decoration. The center holds a large bouquet of varied flowers—including roses, peonies, and cornflowers—in fresh, naturalistic colors. This decoration is completed by floral garlands interspersed with slender branches running along the interior walls. The gilt bronze mount, of very fine workmanship, reflects the ornamental refinement of the Louis XVI style. It features a classic decorative vocabulary: bundles of rushes tied with ribbons, oves, bases, water leaves, rosettes, twisted laurels, openwork interlacing, handles with acanthus leaves, and bunches of grapes. The whole rests on a fluted pedestal decorated with water leaves, richly sculpted, in balanced proportions and without overloading. This type of production can be compared to the work of great Parisian houses such as Denière, renowned for the quality of their bronzes during the Second Empire, in the spirit of Empress Eugénie's taste for 18th-century furniture. French work, Napoleon III period, circa 1860–1880. Dimensions: Height: 32.5 cm Width (handle to handle): 44 cm Perfect condition: original gilding not cleaned, porcelain without chips or restorations.