Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 17

Eugène Cornu, Pair of French Japonisme/Chinoiserie Ormolu Mtd Enameled Onyx Urns

About the Item

A Rare and Quite Unusual Pair of Signed 19th Century French Japonisme/Chinoiserie/Orientalist Ormolu Mounted Champleve Enameled Onyx Urns by Eugène Cornu. Each is made from champlevé enameled onyx in France during the late 1800s by the Société des marbres d'onyx d'Algérie under the direction of Eugène Cornu. Known for their use of Algerian onyx and intricate gilt bronze ornamentation, the firm played a central role in the development of ornamental luxury wares in the latter half of the 19th century. Cornu, who oversaw the workshop's design and production, was closely associated with the broader trend of Japonisme in French decorative arts. One of the handles on this pair is clearly inscribed "E. Cornu / Palais Royal". Each urn features a bulbous body with a short stem and flared neck, resting on a square base with four scrolled feet. The onyx, displaying orange veining across a cream ground, is fitted with champlevé enamel decoration including stylized dragons in green, blue, and red. The dragons are applied to the body in mirrored pairs, framed by additional floral and foliate champlevé elements below the handles. The rims are mounted with scalloped ormolu collars cast in a repetitive cloud scroll motif, while the feet are joined to a pierced platform base that supports the vessel. The mounts include prominently cast gilt bronze handles in the form of foo dog masks gripping solid hanging rings. The bases, handles, and rims follow design principles seen in Cornu's known Japonisme works, which incorporated Chinese and Japanese motifs into French decorative idioms. The onyx likely originated from the quarries in Algeria used by the firm, which specialized in matching stone types with high-quality bronze fittings. The champlevé enamel technique used here is consistent with the decorative metalwork associated with Cornu's late 19th-century output, integrating polychrome design with cast ornament in a cohesive structural form. Perfect for Orchids. France, Circa: 1880 Height: 12.25" Width: 13" Depth: 11"
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12.25 in (31.12 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 11 in (27.94 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Japonisme (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1880
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU919543622122

More From This Seller

View All
Japonism Bronze & Onyx Figural Phoenix Centerpiece/Jardinièr, Attributed Cornu
By Eugène Cornu
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful French polychrome patinated dore bronze and silvered bronze with Algerian onyx mounted centerpiece, attributed to Eugene Cornu. This beautifu...
Category

Antique 1870s French Japonisme Centerpieces

Materials

Onyx, Bronze

A 19 C. French Japonisme Clock Garniture, Att. E. Cornu, Style of Édouard Lièvre
By Eugène Cornu, Edouard Lievre
Located in New York, NY
A 19th-Century French Japonisme Three-Piece Figural Garniture Clock Set Attributed to Eugène Cornu, in the Style of Édouard Lièvre. Consisting of a mantel clock and a pair of matchin...
Category

Antique 1870s French Japonisme Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Onyx, Bronze

Pair of French Japonisme Ormolu Vases E. Lièvre, Executed by F. Barbedienne
By Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in New York, NY
An important and monumental pair of very fine 19th century French Japonisme/Orientalist ormolu vases designed by Edouard Lièvre and Executed by Ferdinand Barbedienne. Each body with an oval shape, finely sculpted in a floral design, fringed by orientalist style handles with cartouches, the neck surmounted by a circular pierced scrolling dragon frieze. Each vase resting on a group of four orientalist style jeweled elephant...
Category

Antique 1870s French Japonisme Vases

Materials

Bronze

Pair French Japonisme Ormolu Patinated Bronze & Cloisonné Vases Christofle & Cie
By Christofle
Located in New York, NY
A Highly Important Pair of French Japonisme Ormolu, Patinated Bronze & Cloisonné Vases, by Christofle & Cie. Christofle & Cie is a renowned French silver and metalwork manufacturer f...
Category

Antique 1880s French Japonisme Vases

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Pair 19th C. French Ormolu Mtd. Chinoiserie Baccarat Cut-Crystal Vases/Lamps
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of 19th Century French Ormolu Mounted Chinoiserie/Japanism Baccarat Hand-Diamond Cut Engraved and Copper-Wheel Cut Crystal Vases, Later Turned to Lamps, Never Drilled, Electri...
Category

Antique 1880s French Japonisme Table Lamps

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

French Japonisme Ormolu-Mounted Baccarat Crystal Vase with Bronze Turtle Feet
By Cristalleries De Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
A Gorgeous and extremely rare French Japonisme ormolu-mounted turtle footed Baccarat crystal vase designed with a gilt turtle design, Baccarat stamp on bottom. The quality and craftsmanship of this piece is second to none. Baccarat crystal is known to be the best crystal in the world and this piece appropriately demonstrates that. The crystal vase is seated on four beautifully cast and hand-chiseled ormolu turtles, representing the Japanese artistic movement in France at the time, known as 'Japonisme'. The body of the vase is a gorgeously hand painted with raised gold and enamel decoration of a turtle and various other decorations, making it seem as though the turtle is swimming in a lake. Underneath the turtle are painted rocks and mosses, while above the turtle are cherry trees, dropping their fruit into the water. On the reverse of the main panel are two turtles swimming...
Category

Antique 1880s French Japonisme Vases

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

You May Also Like

19th Century Onyx and Ormolu-Mounted Orientalist Urn, Attributed Eugène Cornu
By Eugène Cornu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large and impressive French 19th century onyx and ormolu-mounted Orientalist style figural urn, Attributed to Eugène Cornu (French, d. 1875) and G. Viot...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Revival Urns

Materials

Onyx, Bronze

Eugene Cornu, Large Marble and Ormolu Urn, 19th Century
By Eugène Cornu
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century veined grey marble lidded urn with wonderful gilded ormolu classical mounts of mythical dragon like handles and masks, raised on a fluted ormolu collar...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Grand Tour Urns

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair of Ormolu and Marble Seven-Light Candelabras Attributed to Eugène Cornu
By Eugène Cornu
Located in New York, NY
A Monumental Pair of Gilt Bronze and Verde Antico Marble Seven-Light Candelabras attributed to Eugène Cornu. Eugène Cornu was a sculptor and director of ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Candelabras

Materials

Marble, Bronze

pair of French 19th century Japonisme st. Cloisonné and Ormolu vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality pair of French 19th century Japonisme st. Cloisonné and Ormolu vases. Each stunning vase is raised by a square pierced Ormolu base supporting the sumptuou...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Japonisme Vases

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

Pair of Japonisme Porcelain and Ormolu Mounted Aesthethic Movement Vase's
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Pair of Japonism porcelain and ormolu-mounted Aesthethic Movement vase's.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Japonisme Ceramics

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

French Japonisme Lacquered Metal Jardinière on Ormolu Stand Signed Marnyhac
By Edouard Lievre, Maison Marnyhac 1
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Jardinière Médicis vase shape in copper with gold lacquered decoration on a burgundy background of a Japanese landscape with a volcano and an eagle ...
Category

Antique 1870s French Japonisme Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Recently Viewed

View All