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Pair Of Ewers In The Antique Style "bacchanal Of Putti And Dragons" Patinated And Gilded Bronze
Pair of Antique-Style Ewers "Bacchanal of Putti and Dragons" Patinated and Gilded Bronze, 19th Century
Spectacular Pair of Decorative Ceremonial Ewers: "Bacchanal of Putti and Dragons"
Patinated and Gilded Bronze – Napoleon III, 19th Century. Dimensions: Height 57 cm, Maximum Width 22 cm, Depth: 15 cm, Base Diameter: 11 cm, Shoulder Diameter: 15 cm. Private Collection
This exceptional pair of Renaissance-style ewers testifies to the virtuosity of Parisian bronze casters during the Second Empire. A true homage to classical taste and the compositions of Piat-Joseph Sauvage, these pieces are distinguished by a striking contrast between a deep brown patina and a beautifully fresh gilding, with a subtle interplay of matte and glossy finishes.
Highlights & Quality of Craftsmanship:
• Gilding: Superb original gilding, bright in some areas and with contrasting colors.
• Chasing: Extremely fine work, revealing every detail of the foliage and the expressions of the figures. The bronze is thick and rich with a strong relief on the moldings and putti.
• Provenance: First-rate Parisian foundry (initials EE stamped on the bronze on all pieces).
• Condition: Remarkable condition, magnificent original brown patina perfectly preserved.
Very fine quality, original antique mount, 10 different bronze pieces per ewer.
Architectural & Ornamental Description:
The Top and Neck:
The ewer features a majestic spout, adorned with stylized acanthus leaves. The slender neck alternates between moldings, wide hollow gadroons, and delicate foliage scrolls.
The Body (The Belly):
The upper part, encircled by a wide collar of floral interlacing, gives way to a masterful bas-relief: a Bacchanal of Putti. These playful, dancing cherubs carrying floral sheaves, depicted with childlike grace, evoke the famous compositions of Piat Joseph Sauvage. The body terminates in a flared base richly adorned with ribbons and floral garlands.
The Dragon Handle:
The centerpiece of the design, the volute-shaped side handle is surmounted by a charming dragon with outstretched wings, a symbol of power and mystery. The handle's body is finely chased with acanthus leaves and rests on a sheath-like support.
The Base:
The ewer rests on a complex pedestal, a veritable showcase of classical ornamentation: egg-and-dart molding, flat gadroons, rows of pearls, and palmettes. A note of quality: the presence of an aesthetic bronze plate inside the base to conceal the threaded stem fitting.
Dimensions & Technical Details
• Height: 57 cm
• Maximum Width: 22 cm
• Depth: 15 cm
• Base Diameter: 11 cm
• Shoulder: 15 cm
• Period: 19th century (1860-1880) Weight: 8 kg (x2)
Condition Report: Very good original condition, exceptional chasing and casting, original gilding, high-quality assembly. Minimal signs of use and age.
Expert Note: A large-scale decorative piece, ideal for adorning a mantelpiece or prestigious console table, a chest of drawers, or a mantelpiece, its decorative effect can be expansive and sumptuous. The balance between the dragon's power and the bacchanalian lightness, along with the overall architectural harmony and rich ornamentation, makes it a masterpiece of eclecticism and refinement.
Bibliography: (Sculpture)
Piat-Joseph Sauvage, a Belgian painter, was a member of the Royal Academy in 1781 and is famous for his trompe-l'œil works imitating sculpture. In the 1780s, he worked on the interior decoration of the royal châteaux of Rambouillet and Versailles, creating his decorative paintings on various supports, notably using materials such as marble, ivory, and porcelain, and drawing more or less directly from the Neoclassical repertoire linked to Greek and Roman Antiquity. From 1797, he began collaborating with the Parisian porcelain factory Dihl and Guérhard, known as the "Duc d'Angoulême" factory because it had been patronized since 1781 by this prominent aristocrat, who later entrusted its management to two groups of partners: Christophe Erasimus Dihl and the Guérhard couple. These partners transformed the company into the main rival of the Sèvres porcelain factory. The works resulting from this collaboration between Dihl and Guérhard were then presented in prestigious exhibitions, and today, the surviving plaques from this partnership are extremely rare and mostly belong to major French and international museums.
Worldwide delivery, secure packaging, detailed tracking information.
Spectacular Pair of Decorative Ceremonial Ewers: "Bacchanal of Putti and Dragons"
Patinated and Gilded Bronze – Napoleon III, 19th Century. Dimensions: Height 57 cm, Maximum Width 22 cm, Depth: 15 cm, Base Diameter: 11 cm, Shoulder Diameter: 15 cm. Private Collection
This exceptional pair of Renaissance-style ewers testifies to the virtuosity of Parisian bronze casters during the Second Empire. A true homage to classical taste and the compositions of Piat-Joseph Sauvage, these pieces are distinguished by a striking contrast between a deep brown patina and a beautifully fresh gilding, with a subtle interplay of matte and glossy finishes.
Highlights & Quality of Craftsmanship:
• Gilding: Superb original gilding, bright in some areas and with contrasting colors.
• Chasing: Extremely fine work, revealing every detail of the foliage and the expressions of the figures. The bronze is thick and rich with a strong relief on the moldings and putti.
• Provenance: First-rate Parisian foundry (initials EE stamped on the bronze on all pieces).
• Condition: Remarkable condition, magnificent original brown patina perfectly preserved.
Very fine quality, original antique mount, 10 different bronze pieces per ewer.
Architectural & Ornamental Description:
The Top and Neck:
The ewer features a majestic spout, adorned with stylized acanthus leaves. The slender neck alternates between moldings, wide hollow gadroons, and delicate foliage scrolls.
The Body (The Belly):
The upper part, encircled by a wide collar of floral interlacing, gives way to a masterful bas-relief: a Bacchanal of Putti. These playful, dancing cherubs carrying floral sheaves, depicted with childlike grace, evoke the famous compositions of Piat Joseph Sauvage. The body terminates in a flared base richly adorned with ribbons and floral garlands.
The Dragon Handle:
The centerpiece of the design, the volute-shaped side handle is surmounted by a charming dragon with outstretched wings, a symbol of power and mystery. The handle's body is finely chased with acanthus leaves and rests on a sheath-like support.
The Base:
The ewer rests on a complex pedestal, a veritable showcase of classical ornamentation: egg-and-dart molding, flat gadroons, rows of pearls, and palmettes. A note of quality: the presence of an aesthetic bronze plate inside the base to conceal the threaded stem fitting.
Dimensions & Technical Details
• Height: 57 cm
• Maximum Width: 22 cm
• Depth: 15 cm
• Base Diameter: 11 cm
• Shoulder: 15 cm
• Period: 19th century (1860-1880) Weight: 8 kg (x2)
Condition Report: Very good original condition, exceptional chasing and casting, original gilding, high-quality assembly. Minimal signs of use and age.
Expert Note: A large-scale decorative piece, ideal for adorning a mantelpiece or prestigious console table, a chest of drawers, or a mantelpiece, its decorative effect can be expansive and sumptuous. The balance between the dragon's power and the bacchanalian lightness, along with the overall architectural harmony and rich ornamentation, makes it a masterpiece of eclecticism and refinement.
Bibliography: (Sculpture)
Piat-Joseph Sauvage, a Belgian painter, was a member of the Royal Academy in 1781 and is famous for his trompe-l'œil works imitating sculpture. In the 1780s, he worked on the interior decoration of the royal châteaux of Rambouillet and Versailles, creating his decorative paintings on various supports, notably using materials such as marble, ivory, and porcelain, and drawing more or less directly from the Neoclassical repertoire linked to Greek and Roman Antiquity. From 1797, he began collaborating with the Parisian porcelain factory Dihl and Guérhard, known as the "Duc d'Angoulême" factory because it had been patronized since 1781 by this prominent aristocrat, who later entrusted its management to two groups of partners: Christophe Erasimus Dihl and the Guérhard couple. These partners transformed the company into the main rival of the Sèvres porcelain factory. The works resulting from this collaboration between Dihl and Guérhard were then presented in prestigious exhibitions, and today, the surviving plaques from this partnership are extremely rare and mostly belong to major French and international museums.
Worldwide delivery, secure packaging, detailed tracking information.
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