Miroy Frères Figurative Sculptures

Set of four large Academic style torchères emblematic of the continents French, late 19th Century Height: 228cm, diameter 50cm Torchères alone: Height 197cm, diameter 34cm Bases alone: Height 31cm, diameter 50cm The four large torchères in this set are designed in the manner of Mathurin Moreau, one of the leading Academic sculptors of the nineteenth century. The patinated metal sculptures were cast by Miroy Frères...

This sophisticated gilt bronze mantel clock is an elegant piece of mid-19th century design, beautifully cast and gilded and set with two delicate Sèvres style porcelain panels. The clock case's finest feature is the charmingly naturalistic scene at its top, showing a full-length sculpture of a female figure sitting with a basket and two doves. They are displayed on a naturalistic, oval-shaped plinth, which is decorated all around its exterior with painstakingly intricate foliate motifs. Either side of the plinth there are two Sevres style porcelain panels, each of which shows a winged putto. One putto is shown writing, while the other is shown holding a dove. Each is set inside a turquoise blue border decorated with delicate gilt scrolls. In the centre of the plinth sits the clock dial, which is enamelled and contains Roman numerals. It is signed 'Prize Medal 1851 / Miroy Fres Brevetes / Paris' after the clock's maker, Miroy Freres...