Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century

Pair of Napoleon III-era marble and gilded bronze cassolettes featuring ram’s heads.

France, late 19th century –
Brecciated marble in shades of red, pink, and ochre, with a patinated and gilded bronze mount

A rare and elegant pair of decorative cassolettes featuring a remarkable combination of polychrome marble and finely chiseled bronze.

Each piece has an ovoid shape resting on a slender pedestal adorned with stylized leaves.
The body is crafted from marble in flamboyant shades of red, pink, purple, and ochre, featuring spectacular veining reminiscent of certain varieties of brecciated marble prized in the late 19th century.

The decoration is enhanced by superb mascarons of ram’s heads in patinated bronze, rendered with great realism.
These heads serve as attachment points for a gilded bronze floral garland running all the way around the vase, composed of roses, foliage, and ribbons in the decorative style of Louis XVI.

The flared bronze neck features elegant classical molding, while the lower section is highlighted by a band decorated with stylized acanthus leaves.
The cassolettes rest on matching quadrangular marble bases, giving the ensemble perfect stability and a striking decorative presence.

The set is a testament to the high-quality craftsmanship characteristic of luxury pieces inspired by 18th-century designs, which were highly sought after during the Napoleonic III era and the Belle Époque.

• Pair of decorative cassolettes.
• Polychrome marble in red, pink, ochre, and purple.
• Patinated and gilded bronze mounts.
• Decorated with ram’s heads and floral garlands.
• Bases in matching marble.
• French work in the Louis XVI style.
• Period: late 19th century.

In very good overall condition.
Beautiful antique patina on the bronzes.
The marbles show slight signs of wear consistent with the object’s age.

This pair captivates with the richness of its materials, the quality of its chiseling, and its neoclassical aesthetic. They will naturally find their place in a prestigious interior, atop a mantelpiece, a console table, or a ceremonial piece of furniture.