Napoleon III French Silvered Bronze Centrepiece Bowl

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A highly decorative french centrepiece in the napoleon iii taste, this piece is a later recast after a model by … Read more A highly decorative french centrepiece in the napoleon iii taste, this piece is a later recast after a model by the parisian founders lerolle fres, whose original designs were widely admired and subsequently reproduced the bowl is generously proportioned and richly cast in silvered metal, featuring repouss-style panels with classical mythological scenes cherubs and reclining figures framed by scrolling acanthus and fruiting garlands at the centre sits a bold mask of a bearded river god, giving strong sculptural focus to the rim are two finely modelled seated classical maidens in flowing drapery, each wearing laurel wreaths bought from a dealer on marche biron at paris antiques markets their elegant, theatrical pose reflects the opulence associated with second empire design the base is elaborately decorated with masks, scrollwork and foliate detail, raised on stylised paw feet and mounted on a stone plinth this is a decorative and visually striking piece, faithfully following a 19th century french design, but offered here as a later casting rather than an original period example offered in great condition with no signs of damage. Dimensions are in inches (cm): width x depth x height 25 (63.5) x 17 (43.2) x 26 (66) ft See less