Pair Of Urns - Bronze/marble - Claude Ballin - France - 19th Century

An important pair of matt and shiny gilt bronze urns. It consists of a molded rim decorated with grapes and vines descending towards the twelve signs of the zodiac. With a foliage and sword motif in the center, and fluted below. Both urns are decorated with harpies at the top, surmounted by satyr mascarons. The "harpy" being a Greek mythological animal taking the form of a bird with a human head. The urns rest on circular bases in blue turquin marble with steps repeating a motif of columns, encircled by a geometric frieze and decorated with rocaille motifs. Circa 1880 France 19th *The original large pair of urns was part of a set of thirteen pairs of bronze urns located in the garden of Versailles, separating the terrace of the castle from the North and South parterres. They were designed by the king's goldsmith, Claude Ballin (1615-1678).