Allegorical Statuette—gilded Bronze—millet—blue John Base—france—19th Century

Allegorical statuette in gilded bronze, signed “Millet à Paris,” on a Blue John pedestal – Napoleon III period

An elegant allegorical statuette in finely chiseled and gilded bronze, depicting a young woman draped in the classical style, holding a laurel wreath and a trumpet of Renown—traditional attributes of Glory and Triumph.

The sculpture rests on a remarkable pedestal made of Blue John, an extremely rare English ornamental stone quarried in Derbyshire. Its magnificent natural veining in shades of purple, cream, honey, and brown lends this piece a particularly refined character. The finely chiseled gilded bronze mounts highlight the elegance of the entire piece.

The base of the statuette bears the signature “Millet à Paris,” a firm founded by Théodore Millet, one of the most prestigious 19th-century Parisian bronze casters and manufacturers of objets d’art. Renowned for the exceptional quality of its bronzes, clocks, and hardstone mountings, the Millet firm participated in the major World’s Fairs and was awarded prizes for the excellence of its work.

This work perfectly illustrates the taste of the Napoleon III era for luxurious objets d’art, combining gilded bronze with the rarest ornamental stones.

Signature: Millet à Paris.
Period: circa 1865–1880.
Materials: gilded bronze and Blue John (Derbyshire, England).
Condition: in very fine condition, original gilding well preserved, stone free of damage.

A rare decorative piece, combining the craftsmanship of the Millet workshop with the elegance of a Blue John base—a material now particularly sought after by collectors.