Napoléon III Opaline Glass And Gilt Bronze Epergne, C.1860-1880

Centerpiece (or Epergne / Table Centerpiece) with Two Tiers in Blown and Scrolled Opaline Glass with Festooned and Fluted Borders with Opalescent and Iridescent Reflections, Comprising a Circular Bowl Surmounted by a Large Central Trumpet, the Whole Resting on an Important Mount in Chased and Gilt Bronze Depicting a Stylized Fantastic Dolphin on a Moving Tripod Base with Rocaille Volutes
Work from the Napoleon III period, mid-19th century (circa 1860–1880).
H 56 cm
Perfect condition.

Highly prized for the ceremonial service of grand bourgeois tables during the Second Empire, epergnes or table centerpieces combined the virtuosity of master glassmakers with the elegance of French or British bronze-mounting. The motif of the undulating dolphin supporting a basin draws directly from the iconographic repertoire of 19th-century French neo-rococo, recalling the fountains of the Place de la Concorde and ceremonial marine decorations.

This spectacular centerpiece in gilt bronze and opaline glassware, 56 cm in height, constitutes a magnificent testimony to the art of receiving in the 19th century, remarkable for the balance of its silhouette and the finesse of its chasing