Antique Sevres Style Bronze Ormolu Têtes De Satyres Cobalt Blue Porcelain Table Lamp

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Description

Georges Émile Poitevin a famous porcelain painter associated with 19th-century French works, including pieces linked to the historic Sèvres porcelain … Read more Georges Émile Poitevin a famous porcelain painter associated with 19th-century French works, including pieces linked to the historic Sèvres porcelain tradition or royal commissions
1. The Blue Factory Mark
The blue insignia features the iconic interlaced double "L" cipher, which was the original royal mark of the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory.
• The Date Code ("BB"): The double letters "BB" placed inside the center of the interlaced Ls correspond to the year 1779 in the historical Sèvres date letter cycles.
• The Decorator Code ("S."): The small letter "S." painted just beneath the crossed Ls indicates the specific workshop decorator or gilder's mark.
• Authenticity Note: Because this piece is signed by Georges Émile Poitevin—who was active a century later during the late 19th century—this blue insignia is a "spurious" or revival mark. It was a common, accepted practice among luxury 19th-century French workshops to recreate the 18th-century royal marks to honor the classic historical model they were replicating.
2. The Handwritten Script Numbers & Text
• "Vase N° 7 - têtes de Satyre" translates directly from French to "Vase No. 7 - Satyr Heads." This confirms the exact archival name of the porcelain mold, referencing the gilt bronze horned faun/satyr handles flanking the sides of the urn.
• "536 - 2" is a production script number, likely cataloging the specific workshop batch, decorator inventory, or a pair number (as these monumental luxury urns were frequently manufactured and sold in pairs).
Hgt 31 in with finial
Hegt below the socket is 20 in
Wid 12in
This exquisite late 19th-century French table lamp is crafted from a magnificent Sèvres-style cobalt blue porcelain urn, elegantly mounted in rich ormolu gilt bronze. The lamp measures 31 inches in total height to the top of the finial, stands 20 inches high measured from the base to just below the socket, and spans a substantial 14 inches in width between the handles. The body of the lamp features two masterfully hand-painted reserves set against a deep, lustrous cobalt ground. The primary panel is a beautifully detailed Rococo pastoral scene depicting two idealized shepherdesses cradling lambs in a lush woodland setting, finely hand-signed by the celebrated late 19th-century French painter Georges Émile Poitevin. The reverse panel displays a vibrant, meticulously rendered bouquet of fresh garden flowers, framed by delicate, raised gilt floral accent work.
Embodying the grand Louis XVI revival style popular in France around 1880, the urn is flanked by an impressive pair of cast-gilt bronze handles sculpted into the heads of horned fauns or satyrs. This specific design corresponds to the historic Sèvres workshop mold archival notation, hand-inscribed on the underside as "Vase N° 7 - têtes de Satyre." The bottom also features a hand-painted blue interlaced double "L" cipher with the date letters "BB" and a painter's mark "S." reflecting the traditional 1779 Royal Sèvres mark that 19th-century artists replicated on their high-end commemorative creations. This monumental, collector-grade lighting piece rests securely on a heavy, stepped octagonal ormolu base, showcasing fine historical craftsmanship, rich French heritage, and stunning decorative appeal. See less