French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Festive Figural Statues, Signed Devaulx

An attractive and richly detailed French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and patinated bronze signed Delesalle statue. The statue with an oval patinated bronze base has two fem...

A charming and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and patinated bronze signed statue. The statue is raised by an oval ormolu base with a mottled border and most de...

A charming French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu statue of two cherubs signed Moreau. The two playful winged cherubs are standing amidst a rocky terrain while one is whispering in...

A charming and wonderfully executed French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu statue signed Machault. The statue is raised by a square base with an elegant mottled border where the si...

Louis XVI style ormolu chenets, On square support with a central bombe shaped maiden's mask, Scrolling foliage chasing, above an urn of prosperity dec...

This extraordinary and monumental cast-iron sculpture was likely specially commissioned to the Fonderies d'Art du Val d'Osne for an important public or private collection. Designed by celebrated Parisian sculptor Mathurin Moreau, the striking work takes the form of a beautiful young maiden clad in classical robes with an amphora gracefully held aloft in one hand. The work displays a remarkable level of detail considering its iron casting, including a wreath of laurel leaves atop the woman's head and a stunning necklace adorning her neck. Due to its large size and subject matter, the remarkable work would most probably have been exhibited in a public or private fountain, garden, estate or hotel. French cast-iron sculptures such as this one were historically preferred over bronze for outdoor decorations...

A very fine pair of Louis XVI period candlesticks of unusual form. Each with an ovoid white marble body issuing a floral spray with a flower head nozzle, supported by three curved mo...

An Exquisite and Rare French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Inkwell, circa 1875. A truly exceptional and jewel like quality inkwell encrier, made with the finest ormolu, mounted on bloodstone. A true collectors and one of a kind piece. Revival of the ancient régime in the late 19th century was paramount to the French furniture and bronze casting firms of the Belle Epoque. Imitation in the highest regard and replication of those tastes and styles was prevalent throughout the Paris Faubourg, where the most talented bronziers and ébénistes established their workshops. The present inkwell encrier recalls the late 18th century's obsession with hardstones - a taste expounded above all by the duc d'Aumont and, subsequently Marie-Antoinette. Such hardstone-mounted pieces, reminiscent of Renaissance schatzkammer objects, enjoyed a revived popularity at the end of the 18th century through the impetus of both the marchands-mercier and, more importantly, the hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, where the duc d'Aumont himself established a workshop in 1770 specializing in the cutting and polishing of precious hardstones. This exceptional inkwell encrier, sumptuously-mounted with finely chased gilt-bronzes, incorporates a highly-prized material such as bloodstone. Sometimes called the Sunstone, the meaning of Bloodstone comes entangled in fascinating history. The Ancient Greeks held the Bloodstone as a gem with glorious powers. They referred to it as Heliotrope, which directly translates to Sunstone. It was believed to have heavenly healing powers gifted by the gods and most certainly when it came to healing all things related to the blood. Even as we move forward into the Middle Ages, the Bloodstone takes another mystical story under its wing. It was believed to be formed from Christ's blood. It was said that during the Crucifixion, a few red spots of his blood dripped...