Late 19th Century Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Ormolu Amphora/Urn With Bacchanalia Decoration and Marble Base by Ferdinand Barbedienne, France

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Late 19th century Neoclassical gilt bronze ormolu amphora/urn with Bacchanalia decoration and marble base by Ferdinand Barbedienne, France

By: Ferdinand … Read more Late 19th century Neoclassical gilt bronze ormolu amphora/urn with Bacchanalia decoration and marble base by Ferdinand Barbedienne, France

By: Ferdinand Barbedienne
Material: bronze, copper, tin, ormolu, metal, stone, marble
Technique: cast, molded, polished, metalwork, gilt, patinated
Dimensions: 12 in x 24.5 in
Date: late 19th century
Style: Neoclassical, 2nd Empire
Place of origin: France

Cast in patinated bronze with ormolu accents and mounted on a dark marble base, this late 19th-century amphora by Ferdinand Barbedienne presents a refined interpretation of Neoclassical form through the lens of Second Empire decorative arts. The vessel features sweeping handles with scrolling volutes and a gilt rim that frames the body’s central motif: the head of Bacchus emerging from a luxuriant cluster of ivy leaves and grapevines in high relief. Rich in symbolic resonance, the Bacchic imagery evokes classical themes of ecstasy, transformation, and the divine nature of wine, often used in Neoclassical ornamentation to allude to vitality and the cyclical rhythms of nature.

The meticulous metalwork, with its contrast between polished gilded surfaces and matte patination, highlights the technical mastery of Barbedienne’s workshop. The maker’s signature is inscribed at the base. See less