Very Fine Pair of Antique Napoleon III Marble and Ormolu Decoration

An unusual pair of Victorian marble revolving topped pedestals. One marked ‘Forced Lesson’, one marked ‘Forced Prayer’. These beautiful pedestals were clearly designed to hold sculptures with the titles of the works inscribed on the stems. The fact that the pedestals, and therefore the related artworks, were clearly made as a pair has allowed us to research them and we are delighted to have discovered that, at the Melbourne International exhibition in 1880, Pietro Bazzanti and Son of Florence exhibited two artworks with the names Forced Prayer and Forced Lesson (items 338 and 339). Another artist also exhibited a piece titled Forced Prayer at the same exhibition but Forced Lesson is a very unusual title and, as stated before, the fact that the pieces were clearly intended to be a pair reinforces the attribution of provenance in this case. These fine pedestals are a very practical and usable size and the carved swag and star detailing are very desirable attributes. They would make a fine pair of display stands for vases...

A pair of contemporary grey and aquamarine shagreen and obelisks, the square section pedestals with two stepped ivorine plinths, all with silver edging. English, circa 2010.   

A pair of Napoleon III two-branch ormolu wall lights, each in the form of a tied ribbon supporting a stem of fruiting vines and foliage with gadrooned drip trays and acanthus carved ...

A pair of good Napoleon III rouge marble vases, each mounted in ormolu with a pair of square bracket handles and collars of pointed leaves, now fitted for electricity. French, circa ...

A superb Napoleon III Lyre clock by 'Raingo Press, Paris' with an exquistely painted enamel face and finely cast ormolu hands in the shape of lyre. The move...

A very fine pair of George III mahogany and plum pudding mahogany concertina action card tables, each with square cut corners and recessed...

Magnificent pair of antique Carrara marble and ormolu pedestals and urns circa 1850. Urns measure 28" H x 16" W.

Pair of very large pedestal columns in Napoleon III style, conical shape, mid-20th century. Impressive models nearly 1m40 high, with rich ornamentation of gilded bronzes with masks ...

A pair of gilt-bronze and black marble antique Neoclassical pedestals French, 19th Century Height 103cm, diameter 45cm Mounted upon larg...

A very fine green marble column motif pedestal, Italy, circa 1900. Dimensions: Height 45", diameter 11 1/2" CW1091.

Pair of large Neoclassical style glass, marble and ormolu pedestals French, 20th century Height 114cm, diameter 42cm This pair of Neoclassical style pedestals have been crafted...

Pair of French Empire style ormolu, wood and marble pedestals French, 20th Century Height 83cm, diameter 52cm This superb pair of French 20th century pedestals celebrates the ver...