Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Pair French Empire 19th-20th Century Red Porphyry-Like Granite & Ormolu Obelisks

About the Item

A Monumental and Fine Pair of French 19th, 20th Century Empire Style Red Porphyry-Like Granite and Gilt-Bronze (Ormolu) Mounted Obelisks on Four Gilt-Bronze Lion Paws both resting on conforming porphyry and black slate plinths surmounted with allegorical Empire gilt-bronze mounts, circa 1900. Overall Height: 77 inches (196 cm) Slate Bottom Base: 19 inches x 19 inches (48.3 x 48.3 cm) An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top. These were originally called "tekhenu" by the builders, the Ancient Egyptians. The Greeks who saw them used the Greek 'obeliskos' to describe them, and this word passed into Latin and then English. Ancient obelisks were often monolithic, whereas most modern obelisks are made of several stones and can have interior spaces. Obelisks have been erected througout time as an Imperial and Solar symbol which also had the practical function for determining landmarks or special locations. Granite porphyry is a hypabyssal rock differing from a quartz porphyry by the presence of sparse phenocrysts of mica, amphibole, or pyroxene in a medium- to fine-grained groundmass. Granite is a very hard natural igneous rock formation of visibly crystalline texture formed essentially of quartz and orthoclase or microcline and used especially for building and for monuments. Porphyry has been prized since antiquity for its lustrous colour (the word derives from the Greek for purple) and remarkable hardness. The Romans imported porphyry in great quantities from ancient Egypt, using it both in architectural schemes and to carve portrait busts. Its rich purple colour, the Imperial symbol of power, was no doubt of special significance in ancient Rome and with the rediscovery of classical Rome in the Renaissance period, the potent symbolism of porphyry was prized once again, and it was avidly collected by powerful figures such as the Medicis, Louis XIV (who had a buying agent in Rome for his acquisitions), as well as the cardinals de Richelieu and Mazarin. The term "porphyry" is from Greek and means "purple". Purple was the color of royalty, and the "Imperial Porphyry" was a deep purple igneous rock with large crystals of plagioclase. The rock was the hardest known in antiquity and was prized for monuments and building projects in Imperial Rome and later.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 77 in (195.58 cm)Width: 19 in (48.26 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Empire Revival (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1900-1909
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1900
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Some in-filling restoration on the edge chippings. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Overall condition good, some age chipping losses on the side edges of each obelisk and age scratches and wear. Four pieces total (two obelisks and two pedestals). Very attractive and decorative.
  • Seller Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: Ref.: A20111stDibs: LU179624033303
More From This SellerView All
  • Pair of 19th-20th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Marble Urns with Children
    Located in Los Angeles, CA
    A fine pair of French 19th-20th century Louis XVI style figural gilt bronze (Ormolu) mounted and Vert Maurin marble (Veined green marble) covered urns. The domed removable lid centered by a flambeau finial, the ovoid body flanked by a pair of Putti (children) terms with their arms raised, warming their hands to finial flame...
    Category

    Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Urns

    Materials

    Marble, Bronze

  • French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Marble Urn
    By François Linke
    Located in Los Angeles, CA
    A very fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted Fleur de Pêcher marble vase or urn with a gadrooned cover surmounted by a pomegranate finial, above a tapering ovoi...
    Category

    Antique Early 1900s French Louis XV Urns

    Materials

    Marble, Bronze

  • French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu & White Marble Mermaid Candelabra
    By François Linke
    Located in Los Angeles, CA
    A very fine french 19th-20th century Louis XV style ormolu and white marble three-light candelabra, attributed to François Linke (1855-1946). The single allegorical and whimsical finely chased gilt-bronze Belle Époque group representing a pair of mermaid Putti supporting a cornucopia filled with flowers and fruit topped...
    Category

    Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Table Lamps

    Materials

    Marble, Ormolu

  • Pair of French 19th-20th Century Neoclassical Style Cast Iron Figural Torchères
    Located in Los Angeles, CA
    A very fine pair of French 19th-20th century neoclassical style patinated cast iron figural torchères by A. Durenne, Paris, each representing a figure of a standing young maiden, her arms raised forward while holding a a flaming urn gas light (Now electrified) with a frosted glass flame, each raised on a veined grey marble column stand, both cast-signed 'A. Durenne, Paris'. Antoine Durenne was an internationally renowned French art founder. He attended École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1842. Durenne purchased a small foundry in Sommevoire, near the Val d'Osne, Haute-Marne, France and established The Durenne firm, circa Paris, 1900. Cast-iron had been in production during the 18th century but its inferior status to the more fashionable and delicate wrought iron had generally confined its use to architectural work. By the early 19th century, however, rapid developments of the Industrial Revolution combined with the simultaneous burgeoning of a new middle class provided the impetus for a dramatic Expansion in its application and in a short space of time a proliferation of iron foundries across Europe and America thrived on the production of everything from inkstands to railway stations. The use of cast-iron for garden ornament became particularly widespread at this time, as the possibilities for its mass-production at a fraction of the cost of bronze made it the material of choice for outdoor statuary...
    Category

    Antique Early 1900s French Neoclassical Revival Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Marble, Iron

  • Pair of French 19th/20th Century Empire Style 3-Light Gilt-Bronze Wall Sconces
    Located in Los Angeles, CA
    A fine pair of French 19th/20th Century Empire Revival Style Three-Light Gilt-Bronze Wall Sconces (Wall lights). The gilt-bronze wall brackets, each with a set of three scrolled light...
    Category

    Antique Early 1900s Empire Revival Wall Lights and Sconces

    Materials

    Bronze

  • Fine Pair of French 19th Century Marble and Gilt Bronze-Mounted Flambeaux Urns
    Located in Los Angeles, CA
    A fine pair of French 19th century Rouge-Royal marble and figural gilt bronze-mounted flambeaux urns surmounted with four ormolu figures of dolphins supporting the center urn with th...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Urns

    Materials

    Marble, Bronze

You May Also Like
  • Pair of 19th Century French Egyptian Revival Porphyry Obelisks w Ormolu mounts
    Located in Scottsdale, AZ
    Pair of 19th Century French Egyptian Revival Porphyry Obelisks w Ormolu mounts. Please note: Though a pair, one obelisk is 34 1/2" and the other 35" The shorter obelisk is due to a ...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Egyptian Revival Abstract Sculptures

    Materials

    Porphyry

  • Vintage Pair Empire Revival Black Marble Obelisks 20th Century
    Located in London, GB
    A stunning Vintage pair of large Empire Revival obelisks, dating from the late 20th Century. They are made of a dark black'nero antico' marble, the finish and attention to detail th...
    Category

    Late 20th Century Empire Revival Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Marble

  • 19th-Early 20th Century French Glass Bottle Mould
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    19th-early 20th century French mould for glass bottle, Hand-turned. Beautiful patina.
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Primitive Bottles

    Materials

    Wood

  • 19th - 20th Century Gold-Red French Empire Pair of Porcelain, Gilded Cassoulette
    Located in West Palm Beach, FL
    A gold-red, antique French pair of small Cassoulettes made hand crafted porcelain, in good condition. Each of the Parisian Athenians are composed with four gilded bronze maidens, par...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Vases

    Materials

    Metal, Bronze

  • Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Red Granite Urns
    Located in West Palm Beach, FL
    A superb pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and red granite urns. Each urn is raised by an elegant square base with a fine mottled border and a wrap around palmette des...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Urns

    Materials

    Granite, Ormolu

  • Pair of 19th Century Ormolu-Mounted Granite Vases
    Located in New York, NY
    Pair of French vases with ormolu mounts on granite, now mounted as lamps.
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Vases

    Materials

    Granite, Ormolu

Recently Viewed

View All