A fine quality and rare large proportioned French Empire period gilt bronze ormolu and patinated bronze classical Athenienne, after the antique. The large dish with central capstan shaped knob and stylised acanthus leaf rim, the underside with lobes centred by an inverted pine cone, the triform support with an arrangement of X stretchers joined by gilt roundels and ending in beautiful lion paw feet on a stepped plinth base. An ath�nienne (or ''coupe'') of very similar design, formerly belonging to Thomas Bruce 7th Earl of Elgin (1766-1841) and probably supplied by the marchand-mercier Martin-Eloi Lignereux, was sold at Sotheby''s, London, 12 June 1992. Another pair of similar form, but lacking the central knop and on marble bases, were offered at Koller, Zurich, 26 March 2015, lot 1241, where noted that the design was published in ''Collection de Meubles et Objets de Go�t'', edited by Pierre de La M�sang�re (1761-1831), Paris, 1807. Percier and Fontaine''s ''Recueil de D�corations Int�rieures'', Paris, 1801-1812, apparently includes within plate 4 a similar ath�nienne design.Based in London, we are dealers in fine decorative antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries. We specialise in this era of enlightenment, neoclassicism and the Grand Tour, with its far reaching influence on style and taste in Britain, Continental Europe and beyond: elegance in the age of Napoleon. Our extensive stock covers all aspects of this period and decorative antiques influenced by the period. We constantly source new, beautiful items and upload to our site regularly. We are first and foremost antique collectors with over thirty years of experience; we only buy what we love and we hope you will too. Additional images can be supplied on request. More items are available on our website http://www.cellantiques.co.ukHeight is 48cm (18.9inches)
Width is 29.5cm (11.6inches)
Depth is 29.5cm (11.6inches)