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ID #SA760998
FOR SALE
£2,050
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Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C
For sale by Regent Antiques
for sale €2,399     $2,604
£2,050
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016
Browse dealers 666 items
  • About Us
    We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
  • Trade Associations
    Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA
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Id #SA760998
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Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C

19th century
For Sale by Regent Antiques
Description

This is an impressive and highly decorative French gilt bronze and Limoges enamel table mirro, Signed, F.Bienvue, Limoges and Circa 1880 in date.

The enamelled portrait roundel on a floral ground with swag and acanthus leaves, fitted with a bevelled mirror verso, raised on tapered uprights and scrolled acanthus-form feet.

Acanthus leaves embellish the feet and legs and a posy of flowers adorns the top of the column at each side.

The richly coloured enamel portrait shows the subject with her head turned, almost looking over her shoulder and towards the viewer.

It is signed on the left hand side by the master emailleur F. Bienvenu, Limoges.

Condition:

In reallyexcellent condition having been beautifully cleaned in our workshops,, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 24 x Width 14 x Depth 11

Dimensions in inches:

Height 9.4 x Width 5.5 x Depth 4.3

Limoges enamel

has been produced at Limoges, in south-western France, over several centuries up to the present.

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt..

Our reference: 09965

Physical Dimensions
Height
24cm (9.45")
Width
14cm (5.51")
Depth
11cm (4.33")
Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this French Ormolu Table Mirror to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA760998
Dealers Internal Reference
09965
Description
This is an impressive and highly decorative French gilt bronze and Limoges enamel table mirro, Signed, F.Bienvue, Limoges and Circa 1880 in date.
“
The enamelled portrait roundel on a floral ground with swag and acanthus leaves, fitted with a bevelled mirror verso, raised on tapered uprights and scrolled acanthus-form feet.
Regent Antiques
fig 1. A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
fig 1. Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C

Acanthus leaves embellish the feet and legs and a posy of flowers adorns the top of the column at each side.

The richly coloured enamel portrait shows the subject with her head turned, almost looking over her shoulder and towards the viewer.

fig 2. A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
fig 2. Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C

It is signed on the left hand side by the master emailleur F. Bienvenu, Limoges.

Condition:

In reallyexcellent condition having been beautifully cleaned in our workshops,, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 3. A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
fig 3. Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 24 x Width 14 x Depth 11

Dimensions in inches:

Height 9.4 x Width 5.5 x Depth 4.3

Limoges enamel

has been produced at Limoges, in south-western France, over several centuries up to the present.

fig 4. A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
fig 4. Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

fig 5. A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
fig 5. Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

fig 6. A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
fig 6. Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C

After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt..

Our reference: 09965

Height
24cm (9.45")
Width
14cm (5.51")
Depth
11cm (4.33")
Date of Manufacture

Regent Antiques has dated this French Ormolu Table Mirror to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA760998
Dealers Internal Ref
09965
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.

Dealer Profile

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

Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA

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A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
1 / 11
Archive I A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.

Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.bienvue 19th C

Archive II A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View II
Archive III A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View III
Archive IV A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View IV
Archive V A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View V
Archive VI A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View VI
Archive VII A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View VII
Archive VIII A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View VIII
Archive IX A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View IX
Archive X A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View X
Archive XI A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman. View XI
Enlarged Archival View
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques
Telephone 020 8809 9605 or 020 8802 3900
Location
Manor Warehouse
318 Green Lanes
London
N4 1BX
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/regentantiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 666
Items Sold 2,656
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: Manor Warehouse, 318 Green Lanes, London, N4 1BX, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/regentantiques
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
666
Sold
2,656
A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
Antique French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror F.Bienvue 19th C
Ref: SA760998
A 19th-century French gilt bronze ormolu tabletop frame on scroll feet featuring an oval hand-painted enamel portrait miniature of a veiled woman.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectTable Mirrors
  • Period19th century
  • StyleFrench Rococo Revival
  • MaterialGilt Bronze, Ormolu, Enamel, Copper
  • ColourGold
  • MotifsScroll feet, Foliate ornamentation, Vitreous enamel portrait, Gilt bronze frame
  • SizeH 24 cm (9 in) x W 14 cm (6 in) x D 11 cm (4 in)

This French Rococo Revival table mirror dates from 1880 and takes the form of an oval gilt bronze and ormolu frame housing a hand-painted Limoges enamel portrait of a veiled woman against a rich red background. The polished metal surface shines in gold, while the miniature depicts a female subject wearing a blue and yellow headscarf over her hair. The upright frame stands upon scrolled acanthus-form feet with tapered supports, decorated with foliate ornamentation and floral finials at the top of each side column, and signed on the left-hand side by the artist F. Bienvenu, Limoges. Measuring 24 cm high, 14 cm wide, and 11 cm deep, this piece serves as a decorative accessory for a sideboard top in a traditional drawing room or hallway. Placement on a polished wooden surface allows the piece to catch natural light across its gilded surfaces and detailed enamelwork. Collectors of 19th-century decorative art utilise such items to add historical character and colour to interior spaces without requiring large areas of surface space. The compact proportions enable flexible placement among other decorative objects, functioning as both a functional looking-glass with a bevelled mirror verso and a fine art miniature. Routine placement on a secure tabletop ensures stability for the pivoting frame while highlighting the intricate chasing and relief decoration of the metalwork.

FAQs

Ormolu refers to gilt bronze applied with a mercury-gold amalgam coating, popular in French decorative arts from the 18th century, whereas Limoges enamel is a refined vitreous enamelling process developed in Limoges, France, involving painted ground glass fired onto metal bases.

These tabletop pieces were assembled using cast bronze or brass components, hand-chased for detail and gilded, then fitted with swivelling frames containing mirror glass or vitreous enamel portrait miniatures mounted on copper backing.

Genuine 19th-century ormolu exhibits heavy cast metal weight, fine hand-chased foliage or classical motifs, and natural oxidisation in recessed areas, whilst authentic Limoges enamel features layered hand-painted vitreous glaze and a counter-enamelled reverse side.

Place this decorative accent on a vanity console, marble mantelpiece, or sideboard to contrast intricate gilded metalwork against contemporary neutral backdrops and textured stone surfaces.

Dust regularly using a dry, soft microfibre brush, avoiding chemical solvents, liquid brass polishes, or abrasive cloths that can strip historical gilding or compromise the enamel surface.
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