Fine Pair of George III Grand Tour Influenced Silver-Gilt Salts by William

A French silvered-bronze athénienne by Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris, last quarter 19th century with a revolving liner, the frieze applied with bucrania suspending ribbon-tied berried laurel swags above a border of bellflowers on a stippled ground above three seated female sphinxes issuing stylised foliage and scrolls on lion monopodia cast with the mask of Hercules, scrolling foliage and anthemions joined by stretchers, raised on a concave-sided triform marble base on a further thin silvered-bronze base, inscribed to the tripod base 'F. BARBEDIENNE' Measures: 103.3cm. high, 41.5cm. diameter; 3ft. 4 3/8 in, 1ft. 4 1/4. This impressive athénienne is a key reminder of the longevity of a particular model and design’s success from Antiquity through to the 19th century and up until this day. Typically known as the ‘Trépied du Temple d’Isis’, this athénienne is designed after the Roman antique originally found at Pompeii and now at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples (fig.1). From being for example an inspiration for the baptismal font of Napoléon’s son in 1811, this model was the inspiration to many highly skilled makers throughout the 19thcentury such as the Manfredini brothers from Milan and of course the Parisian well-established bronze founder Ferdinand Barbedienne who executed the present example. The Temple of Isis was a Roman temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis and was among one of the first discoveries during the excavation of Pompeii in 1764. Certainly considered as one of the most elegant examples of antique tripods, the existence of this model was then popularized to the rest of Europe via prints, one of the first being by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1779. This type of tripod was also popularised by an engraving in C. Percier and P. Fontaine’s, Receuil de Décorations Intérieures of 1801. Interestingly, there is also a watercolour now in the Musée Carnavalet, Paris, showing this type of tripod displayed at the 1801 Exposition des Produits de L’Industrie in the Louvre. The passion for Greek and Roman Art in the 19th century. The discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum around the middle of the 18th century gave rise to a new passion for Antiquity and the excavated masterpieces renewed the repertoire of fine and decorative arts and served as models for Neoclassicism. Members of the aristocracy as well as connoisseurs, particularly in England, completed their education by undertaking a ‘Grand Tour’ of Italy and often fell victim to the recently unearthed Greek and Roman artefacts...

A museum-grade mid-17th century Dutch silver marriage casket or knottekistje, circa 1660. Raised on solid silver bun feet the miniature casket is profusely engraved to all faces depicting a courting couple and architecture entwined in scrolling foliage. The reverse of the casket depicts the last supper, however, if you look closely, you can see a boy stealing food or wine from underneath! Possibly, this is the courting gentleman showing that he had a sense of humour. The scratch lined moulded top is surmounted with an intricate handle (once gilt) and floral patera to the centre. There are two inscriptions each within a cartouche 'In Lÿfde Beltact het al' and 'Getrouw tot in den doot' which loosely translates to 'faithful until the death' and 'love is everything'. Wedding caskets...

An exceptional pair of 18th century English Rococo gilt bronze andirons or fire dogs. The bold shape of these andirons relate to designs of Thomas Johnson (1714–1778), one of London's pioneers of the 'Modern' or French style, later known as Rococo. In the 1750s he published several books of designs which were widely used for things like ceiling moulding. These books include 12 Girandoles in 1755, The Book of the Carver in 1758 and monthly between 1755 and 1758, 150 New Designs. He also had a great influence on Ince and Mayhew's book, The Universal System...

An Important and Rare Pair of George III Carved Giltwood Mirrors England, Circa 1760-1770 A fine and rare pair of George III period giltwood mirrors in the Chippendale style at its ...

Pair of fine saliers London 1790mm Henry Chawner Sterling Silver The pair is very nicely worked with engraving and gilding inside.

A very fine pair of early George III Sauceboats made in London in 1763 by William Cripps. The Sauceboats are of a substantial size and stand on three ribbed legs with shell feet and...

A fine and impressive pair of antique Georgian English sterling silver salts made by Henry Chawner; an addition to our silver cruet and condiment collection. These fine antique George III sterling silver salts have a plain rounded oval form to an oval pedestal foot. The surface of each salt is encircled with a plain applies girdle above the contemporary engraved initials 'EPC'. The oval feet and upper rims of these impressive examples of Georgian silverware are encircled with applied thread decorated borders. These antique salts, crafted by the renowned London silversmith Henry Chawner, have gilded interiors. Condition These antique silver salts...

The body and foot with robust gadrooning, the border, lip and handles with a continuous floral decoration, the large flexible handle with leaf and berry decoration, gilt interior.