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ID #SA1214935
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£1,550
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A Gilt Bronze and Marble Lion Inkstand, French Circa 1850
Robert Belcher Antiques
for sale €1,814     $1,969
£1,550
Robert Belcher Antiques

Robert Belcher Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2017
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  • About Us
    Robert belcher antiques was established in 1984 and is a high quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative items.
Id #SA1214935
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A Gilt Bronze and Marble Lion Inkstand, French Circa 1850

19th century
Description

This highly decorative mid 19th century desk inkstand is in the form of a recumbent lioness. She is very finely detailed and is cast in solid bronze with a hand chased and gilt finish. Her head lifts and hinges back to reveal a hidden brass inkwell.

The lioness is mounted onto a figured white marble base, which is raised onto four bronze ball feet.

The edge of the marble is finished with a gilt bronze moulding decorated with a scrolled leaf pattern.

This superb inkstand works as a standalone sculpture or as a desk piece. It is in very good condition. The marble has a few tiny, minor edge chips, which are in keeping with its age and use.

French, circa 1850

Height 17.5cm x width 31cm x depth 20.5cm

Height 17.5cm x width 31cm x depth 20.5cm

Physical Dimensions
Height
17cm (6.69")
Width
31cm (12.20")
Depth
20.5cm (8.07")
Declaration

Robert Belcher Antiques has dated this Gilt Bronze Lion Inkstand to the 1850s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1214935
Dealers Notes

Robert Belcher Antiques was established in 1984 and is a high-quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative objects. After forty years of shop keeping and maintaining beautiful showrooms, which have been regularly open six days a week, Robert and Wendy have now taken a slightly different approach to their business. Having sold their retail premises, the antique business is now fully online. The picture framing service has ceased to operate because of moving online.

You can contact Robert and Wendy by email or telephone to discuss items from their extensive catalogue of attractive pieces and make purchases. Customers can rest assured that the long-established dealership is continuing to run in an exceedingly professional way, selling genuine and high-quality items which are guaranteed to please the most discerning collector, decorator or homeowner.

All items will be personally hand packaged to a high standard. Small items are extensively wrapped using the best materials and are often double boxed. Items are then shipped with DHL or Royal Mail fully insured and often with next day delivery. Larger items would be personally delivered or sent with a specialist antique delivery firm, or for outside the U.K, a professional shipping company.

Please enjoy viewing their collection of rare and interesting pieces and have the assurance that Robert and Wendy will do their utmost to make sure your experience is exceptional, as has been recognised by many customers who have bought with confidence regularly over the years.

Contact details

Email: robertbelcherantiques@gmail.com

Telephone: 01905 622468

Mobile 07929 011224

07720 607007

Website: https://www.robertbelcherantiques.co.uk

Instagram: robertbelcherantiques

Description
This highly decorative mid 19th century desk inkstand is in the form of a recumbent lioness. She is very finely detailed and is cast in solid bronze with a hand chased and gilt finish. Her head lifts and hinges back to reveal a hidden brass inkwell.
fig 1. A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet.
fig 1. A Gilt Bronze and Marble Lion Inkstand, French Circa 1850

The lioness is mounted onto a figured white marble base, which is raised onto four bronze ball feet.

The edge of the marble is finished with a gilt bronze moulding decorated with a scrolled leaf pattern.
Robert Belcher Antiques
fig 2. A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet.
fig 2. A Gilt Bronze and Marble Lion Inkstand, French Circa 1850

This superb inkstand works as a standalone sculpture or as a desk piece. It is in very good condition. The marble has a few tiny, minor edge chips, which are in keeping with its age and use.

French, circa 1850

Height 17.5cm x width 31cm x depth 20.5cm

Height 17.5cm x width 31cm x depth 20.5cm

Height
17cm (6.69")
Width
31cm (12.20")
Depth
20.5cm (8.07")
Date of Manufacture

Robert Belcher Antiques has dated this Gilt Bronze Lion Inkstand to the 1850s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1214935
Robert Belcher Antiques
Robert Belcher Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2017

Robert belcher antiques was established in 1984 and is a high quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative items.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Robert Belcher Antiques Profile Page

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A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet.
1 / 12
Archive I A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet.

A Gilt Bronze and Marble Lion Inkstand, French Circa 1850

Archive II A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View II
Archive III A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View III
Archive IV A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View IV
Archive V A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View V
Archive VI A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View VI
Archive VII A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View VII
Archive VIII A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View VIII
Archive IX A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View IX
Archive X A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View X
Archive XI A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View XI
Archive XII A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
Location
Worcestershire
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Verified Since Jul 2017
Items For Sale 406
Items Sold 667
Robert Belcher Antiques
Robert Belcher Antiques
Verified Since Jul 2017
View Dealer Info
Location: Worcestershire, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Verified
Jul 2017
For Sale
406
Sold
667
A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet.
A gilt bronze and marble lion inkstand, French Circa 1850
Ref: SA1214935
A French gilt bronze figure of a recumbent lion mounted on a rectangular white marble plinth with gilt borders and ball feet.
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Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

During the mid-19th century in France, decorative inkstands served as prominent status symbols on executive desks and in private libraries. Often featuring animalier motifs inspired by nature, these objects combined functionality with high sculpture and metalworking artistry.

These desk accessories were predominantly cast in bronze and finished with mercury gilding, known as ormolu, to produce a durable golden lustre. The metal figures were typically mounted onto polished marble or porphyry bases fitted with brass or bronze feet.

Authentic mid-19th-century French pieces exhibit hand-chased surface details, significant weight from solid cast bronze and marble, and traditional threaded rod attachments beneath the base. Wear to the gilding usually aligns with handling points rather than uniform artificial aging.

A gilt bronze desk accessory functions well as a focal accent on a contemporary executive office desk, mahogany console, or dark wood bookshelf. Placing metallic antique pieces against dark or textured backdrops creates an appealing visual contrast.

Dust gilt bronze gently using a soft-bristled brush or dry microfibre cloth, avoiding liquid chemicals or abrasive metal polishes that strip the gilding. Marble bases should be wiped with a slightly damp cloth and kept free from acidic substances that cause etching.
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