Napoleon III Column In Blackened Wood And Gilded Bronze

French work from the late 19th century, in the Second Empire / Napoleon III taste, conceived as a display pedestal (gaine / column stand) for a bust, sculpture, decorative object or lamp. Proantic+1

Cylindrical fluted/channeled shaft in wood with a deep black finish (ebonised / lacquered appearance), raised on a moulded polygonal plinth. The circular top provides a stable presentation surface while retaining a clear architectural “column” profile.

Gilt-bronze ornamentation of notable presence: encircling bands to the upper section, large fringed draped swags, and suspended oak-leaf and acorn drops. The central mount is a Hercules mask wearing the lion skin (reference to the Nemean lion), a recurring historicist motif in the second half of the 19th century, signalling strength and classical inspiration.

The piece stands out for its unusual composition—a restrained cylindrical body animated by sculptural mounts—and for the high-relief modelling of the bronzes: expressive mascarons, ample fringed drapery, and articulated oak-leaf drops, designed to read convincingly from multiple angles.

Height - 113 cm
Width / depth (base) - 39 cm
Top diameter -  28 cm