Pair Of Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Andirons "with Winged Lions", Paris, Maison Beurdeley

A pair of finely chased and mercury-gilded bronze andirons in the Louis XVI style, made in Paris circa 1860–1870 and stamped BY for the renowned firm of Beurdeley. These high-quality bronzes are inspired by the prestigious model created in 1784 for the Grand Salon of the Château de Bellevue, commissioned by the sisters of King Louis XVI. Each andiron is richly decorated with a winged lion, a blue enamel sphere adorned with stars, and an elaborately decorated covered vase surmounted by ram's head handles and abundant garlands of flowers and fruit. The bases are also decorated with cherubs in relief against a blue background. Comparable examples of this prestigious model are held in the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles. This pair is a remarkable testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of Louis-Auguste-Alfred Beurdeley (1808–1882), one of the most celebrated Parisian manufacturers of luxury furniture and bronzes in the 19th century. Dimensions: 54.5 × 20.5 × 66 cm