A bronze 'Versailles' garden vase with sphinxes
A bronze 'Versailles' garden vase with sphinxes
Circa 1870
Stock Number: 15295/GSO
Height
79.00cm
[31.10 inches]
Width 71.00cm [27.95 inches]
Width 71.00cm [27.95 inches]
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Urn square at base 25 cm
Overall height including plinth 136 cm
Plinth square at base 44 cm
After one of the models at Versailles primarily ascribed to Claude Ballin the elder (1615-1678).
The urn here is a 19th century re-making of one of a suite of designs made for “The Sun King” Louis XIV (1638-1715) to grace the Parterre de Midi and Parterre du Nord at Versailles. (Thirteen pairs cast circa 1670). Known as the “Bagatelle” vases after the Chateau of the same name, copies of the 17th century originals were cast around 1864 with permission of Napoleon III, first by Richard Seymour-Conway 4th Marquess of Hertford (1800 – 1870) and later by his son Sir Richard Wallace (1818-90). An inventory at Chateau de Bagatelle in 1871 recorded 46 urns (there may be more), with many of these urns, excepting three pairs, subsequently removed to England by Sir John Murray Scott (1847-1912). The makers of these urns have been variously attributed to the founders: Val d’Osne Antoine Durenne, Ferdinand Barbedienne and Barbazat et Cie. This Specific model (with Sphinxes) can be seen at Sissinghurst Castle Garden with other vase types at Anglesey Abbey, Hertford House (The Wallace collection) and Lanhydrock Cornwall.
The body of the vase is ornamented in low relief with a band of foliage decoration below the aperture, a row of beading divides the main body beneath which are four roundels containing different visages of Roman types, the beading being quartered by two female masks and two lion masks motifs, each holding handles in their mouths. These lions are hooded by a shell motif which support a pair Sphinxes. The base of the vase having thumb groves all supported by a plain socle decorated by a laurel band at the neck.
Overall height including plinth 136 cm
Plinth square at base 44 cm
After one of the models at Versailles primarily ascribed to Claude Ballin the elder (1615-1678).
The urn here is a 19th century re-making of one of a suite of designs made for “The Sun King” Louis XIV (1638-1715) to grace the Parterre de Midi and Parterre du Nord at Versailles. (Thirteen pairs cast circa 1670). Known as the “Bagatelle” vases after the Chateau of the same name, copies of the 17th century originals were cast around 1864 with permission of Napoleon III, first by Richard Seymour-Conway 4th Marquess of Hertford (1800 – 1870) and later by his son Sir Richard Wallace (1818-90). An inventory at Chateau de Bagatelle in 1871 recorded 46 urns (there may be more), with many of these urns, excepting three pairs, subsequently removed to England by Sir John Murray Scott (1847-1912). The makers of these urns have been variously attributed to the founders: Val d’Osne Antoine Durenne, Ferdinand Barbedienne and Barbazat et Cie. This Specific model (with Sphinxes) can be seen at Sissinghurst Castle Garden with other vase types at Anglesey Abbey, Hertford House (The Wallace collection) and Lanhydrock Cornwall.
The body of the vase is ornamented in low relief with a band of foliage decoration below the aperture, a row of beading divides the main body beneath which are four roundels containing different visages of Roman types, the beading being quartered by two female masks and two lion masks motifs, each holding handles in their mouths. These lions are hooded by a shell motif which support a pair Sphinxes. The base of the vase having thumb groves all supported by a plain socle decorated by a laurel band at the neck.
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