Pair Napoleon III Fire-Gilt Ormolu Curtain Tiebacks with Classical Female Busts

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Pair of Napoleon III Fire-Gilt Ormolu Curtain Tiebacks with Classical Female Busts, Palais Royal, Paris, 1870s

An exquisite pair of … Read more Pair of Napoleon III Fire-Gilt Ormolu Curtain Tiebacks with Classical Female Busts, Palais Royal, Paris, 1870s

An exquisite pair of French Napoleon III ormolu curtain tiebacks, dating to the 1870s, finely cast and richly fire-gilt in the grand tradition of Parisian bronziers. Each tieback is modeled with a portrait bust of a classical maiden, her hair elaborately braided and adorned with flowers, emerging in high relief against a dramatic anthemion backplate. The anthemion, a stylized palmette derived from ancient Greek ornament, symbolized eternal life and regeneration, while the scrolling acanthus and volute supports beneath suggest both growth and classical refinement.

The figures, serene and idealized, reflect the allegorical taste of the Second Empire, when neoclassical language was revived and enlivened with romantic portraiture. The mounts extend into a leaf-shaped arm designed to hold back heavy draperies of velvet or brocade, transforming a practical furnishing element into a sculptural object of luxury. The original fire gilding survives with its distinctive matte and burnished contrasts, a hallmark of superior 19th-century Parisian workmanship.

The casting and finish are comparable to the output of leading bronziers such as Henry Dasson, Barbedienne, or Beurdeley, and the pair may well have originated from the Palais Royal ateliers, known for retailing ormolu of the finest caliber.

A rare survival of opulent Second Empire taste, these tiebacks marry symbolism, function, and artistry, suitable for both collectors and interiors with a taste for historic grandeur.

Measurements: 6" H × 5.5" W × 2.25" D (Busts alone 2" H). See less