Early 19th Century Cup in Egyptian Porphyry and Bronze with Cupids

Elegant Empire-period inkwell featuring a rectangular base in griotte red marble, embellished with gilded bronzes. The main decoration, of great finesse, represents a winged figure i...

Ormolu perfume burner or potpourri holder that serves as a striking table centerpiece. The openwork lid is adorned with palmettes, foliage, small flower...

Gilded and patinated bronze planter mounted on a stepped sea-green marble base, with women in long tunics at the corners and a central amphora with swan-shaped handles. Like the colu...

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...

A magnificent and monumentally scaled Italian early 19th century solid Porphyry and ormolu urn, circa 1810. The most impressive urn is raised by a circular base with a fine stepped and mottled border. At the center is an impressive and most decorative reeded design below the smooth elegantly curved body with richly sculpted scrolled handles at each side. Above the curved neck is the removable lid also decorated with a beautiful reeded design, mottled band, and centered by a striking ormolu acorn finial. All original gilt. Porphyry was Imperial Rome’s most prestigious stone for columns, vases, and other objects. The word “porphyry” comes from the Latin word for purple, which was the color of nobility to the Romans. Porphyry is considered the Imperial Stone of the Roman Empire. In the year 18 AD, the Roman Legionnaire Caius Cominius discovered a beautiful purple stone in the eastern desert of Egypt. It was a deep purple color with flecks of larger white crystals and was perfect for carving. This porphyry quickly became the most prestigious stone for the elite of Rome and Byzantium. For centuries the Romans quarried this treasured stone...

Italian bronze and black marble bacchanalian figural tazza, early 19th century.

1970s Ceramic cup with handles on base imitating Porphyry.  

An elegant and high quality French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu centerpiece/urn. This beautifully detailed urn is raised by a circular mottled and stepped...