Royal Dux Bohemia, Art Nouveau Centerpiece, Bohemia, circa 1900

Exceptional centerpiece in silvered and gilded bronze, composed of a naiad riding a dolphin, supporting a chiseled shell decorated with reeds, adorned with the head of a river god on its bow and on which a winged love blows in a conch. The whole rests on a pedestal decorated with dolphin heads and cut-out leathers, ending with a porphyry base with molded steps. Historical and artistic context Centers and naves of tables are attested in France from the Middle Ages in order to present spices and other condiments brought from distant lands around the Mediterranean or from the trade of the Silk Roads. The importance of their presence on prestigious tables will be confirmed throughout the decorative arts, evolving during the 19th century in centerpieces, becoming a central element of decoration. Here we find a true virtuosity in the composition and representation of the human figure which is reminiscent of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance. Indeed, the fluidity of the lines of the naiad can be compared to the nymph of Fontainebleau by Benvenuto Cellini preserved at the Louvre museum and dated 1545, while the naturalist representation of the marine setting refers to the work of Wenzel Jamnitzer...

Charming oval-shaped cup, in gilded bronze and polychrome enamel with arabesque decoration. The leafy handles are surmounted by doves, and it rests on a polylobed base topped with le...

Large Royal Dux cup crafted in porcelain biscuit. The biscuit is partially enameled, and highlighted with polychrome accents. The cup features two nymphs climbing a shell on waves. O...

Spectacular Art Nouveau centrepiece attributed to Kayser in Germany, circa 1900. Very impressive, this stunning piece gathers all the excellence of the Art Nouveau era in terms of...