Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

Pair of Patinated Bronze Models of the Townley Vase Cast by Delafontaine

$10,070.68
£7,200
€8,598.37
CA$13,776.48
A$15,416.27
CHF 8,049.65
MX$189,527.01
NOK 101,555.64
SEK 95,563.36
DKK 64,150.46
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

A fine pair of patinated bronze models of the townley vase, cast after the antique, by Auguste-Maximilien Delafontaine. The bronze stamped to the underside ‘AD’ for Auguste-Maximillian Delafontaine. Each vase is of krater form with elaborate scrolling pierced bifurcated volute handles and palmette cast necks; the ovoid bodies are cast in high relief with a Bacchic frieze and raised on lotus and palmette circular pedestal bases. This exceptional pair of patinated bronze vases, with their distinctive volute handles and Bacchanalian frieze are cast after the celebrated Townley vase now in the British Museum. The frieze which is cast in high relief depicts a procession of Bacchic revellers including Bacchus and Ariadne, accompanied with various symbols, relating to the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Townley vase is a large Roman marble vase dating from the 2nd century CE, discovered in 1773 by the Scottish antiquarian Gavin Hamilton when excavating the Villa of Antoninus Pius at Monte Cagnolo, between Genzano and Civita Lavinia, near the ancient Lanuvium, in Lazio, southeast of Rome. Its name comes from the important English collector Charles Townley, who purchased it from Hamilton in 1774 for £250. Townley's collection, long on display in his London house in Park Street, was bought for the British Museum after his death in 1805. French, circa 1870. Literature Pryce, F. N. / Smith A.H, ‘Sculpture - Catalogue of Greek Sculpture in the British Museum’, BMP, London 1892-1928. The Delafontaine foundry was established in Paris in the late eighteenth century by Jean-Baptiste-Maximilien Delafontaine and, by 1870 is listed as being located at 10 Rue de l'Universite. The Delafontaine foundry produced decorative works of art of the highest quality and was one the the most renowned of all the Parisian foundries. They were the main competitor to the Barbedienne foundry, casting works by some of the leading sculptors of the nineteenth century including Antoine-Louis Bayre, James Pradier and Mathurin Moreau. Works cast by Delafontaine remain in the collection of the Louvre and other leading museums. Auguste-Maximilien Delafontaine, 1813-1892, was the grandson of the founder, and during his time at the foundry pieces were stamped 'AD' to the reverse on the bronze work. Auguste was succeeded by his son Henri-Maximilien in 1884 and the foundry closed its doors in 1905.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 14.97 in (38 cm)Width: 8.27 in (21 cm)Depth: 7.88 in (20 cm)
  • Style:
    Classical Roman (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Bronze,Patinated
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1870
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Brighton, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: B753001stDibs: LU1028020633762

More From This Seller

View All
Pair of Patinated Bronze Vases
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A pair of patinated bronze vases cast after the antique. Each vase is of krater form with elaborate scrolling volute handles with swan heads a...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Vases

Materials

Bronze

Pair of ‘Neo-Grec’ Style Multipatinated Bronze Amphora Vases
By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Ferdinand Levillain
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Large And Rare Pair of ‘Neo-Grec’ Style Multipatinated Bronze Amphora Vases by Ferdinand Levillain and Ferdinand Barbedienne. Signed to the cast ‘F. Levillain Fecit 1880’ and ‘F. Barbedienne’. This large pair of multipatinated vases are of amphora form modelled in the ‘Neo-Grec’ style with trumpet shaped necks and scrolling handles terminating in masks; the vases are raised on circular spreading bases put down on plinths. Each vase is finely ornamented with laurel leaves and garlands to the neck, the main body with a superb banded frieze cast in low relief depicting the Centauromachy. In the Centauromachy, the Lapiths battle with the Centaurs at the wedding feast of Pirithous. An enduring classical theme linked with the idea of culture versus nature, the Centauromachy was widely depicted in ancient Greece from the Southern Metopes of the Parthenon Freieze to the Temple of Apollo Epikourious at Bassai, it also appears as a subject on numerous Attic vases such as the Ilioupersis krater. A popular theme for artists from the Renaissance onwards it was depicted by amongst others, Michelangelo, Piero di Cosimo, Luca Signorelli, Sebastiano Ricci...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Vases

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Fine Pair of Patinated Bronze Bacchanalian Vases
By Claude Michel Clodion
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine pair of patinated bronze bacchanalian vases, after Clodion. Cast after the design by Clodion, the vases are modelled with masks depicting chimerical ibex flanked by laurel ...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Vases

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Patinated Bronze and Marble Urns
By Claude Michel Clodion
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine pair of patinated bronze and rouge griotte marble urns and covers, in the manner of Clodion. Of fine patina each urn has an ovoid shaped body cast in high relief with vine ...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Urns

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Large Pair of Neo-Grec Gilt and Patinated Bronze Amphora Vases
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A rare and large pair of neo-grec gilt and patinated bronze amphora vases. Designed by Ferdinand Levillain and cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne. Signed ‘F. Levillain’ and ‘F. Barbedienne’. These spectacular floor-standing Neo-Grec vases...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Vases

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Napoléon III Gilt-Bronze and Patinated Bronze Athéniennes
By Henri Picard
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine Pair of Napoléon III Gilt-Bronze and Patinated Bronze Athéniennes Modelled in the Classical Antique Style, Attributed to Henri Picard. The bronze impressed with the number R...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Planters, Cachepots and...

Materials

Bronze

You May Also Like

Pair of Early 20th Century Bronze Roman-Style Urns
Located in Chicago, IL
A phenomenal pair of early 20th century French cast bronze Roman-style urns with volute handles decorated with goose heads, and a frieze in low-relief depic...
Category

Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Urns

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance Style Patinated Bronze and Giltwood Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated bronze and giltwood urns. Each urn is raised by a circular mottled giltwood base and a patinated bronze socle pedesta...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Renaissance Urns

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical Patinated Bronze Marble and Ormolu Urns
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and high quality pair of French 19th century neo-classical patinated bronze, marble and ormolu urns attributed to Barbedienne. Each urn is raised by a square Black Belgia...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Urns

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century Bronze French Grand Tour Urns (Pair)
Located in Louisville, KY
This pair of early 19th century Grand Tour Period bronze gilt volute krater urns on stone bases are absolutely breathtaking. The base is a heavy black slate with etched Neo-classic f...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Grand Tour Urns

Materials

Stone, Slate, Bronze

Pair Antique Roman Neoclassical Patinated Bronze Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique patinated bronze vases with variegated green marble pedestals in the Roman neoclassical style featuring finely cast figur...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Neoclassical Revival Vases

Materials

Bronze

Pair Bronze Campana Urns Grand Tour Classical Barebedienne
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous pair of classical Grand Tour urns in bronze Classic campana form flanked by the male figurines as handles Stands on the red marble bases which are smooth a...
Category

Vintage 1980s Urns

Materials

Bronze