Pair Of Gilt Bronze Sphinxes On A Malachite Block By Odiot

Pair of gilt bronze sphinxes, with traces of patina, mounted on a malachite block. This is a 1970s re-edition of a model created during the Napoleonic era by Jean-Baptiste Odiot, goldsmith to the Emperor. Each sphinx is signed on its side with Odiot's name in full and the goldsmith's stamp. A sphinx is the feminine form of the sphinx, a mythological hybrid creature with a human head and a lion's body that originated in Egypt. It symbolizes strength, mystery, intelligence, and prudence, and is also linked to the underworld as a guardian of the tomb. This symbol has transcended eras, from Egypt to the 20th century, and is a key figure in Art Nouveau symbolism. The original model of our pair of sphinxes dates from the First French Empire, created at the time by the goldsmith Odiot (1753-1858) and re-editioned by the same firm in the 20th century. It was purchased directly from the Odiot store on Place de la Madeleine in Paris in the 1970s.