French Gryphon Ormolu Side Table
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Ormolu - Ormolu was popular with French craftsmen in the 18th and 19th century for ornamental fittings for furniture, clocks and other decorative items. True ormolu is gilt bronze, that is bronze that has been coated with gold using a mercury amalgam. Due to the health risks associated with using mercury, this method of creating ormolu was discontinued in France in the 1830s. A substitute was developed consisting of about 75% copper and 25% zinc, however it was inferior to the bronze version. It was often lacquered to prevent it tarnishing.
- Serpentine - Resembling a serpent, in the form of an elongated 'S'. A serpentine front is similar to a bow front, except that the curve is shallow at each end, swelling towards the middle. The term presumably derives from its similarity to a moving snake or serpent. Serpentine fronts are usually veneered, with the carcase either being cut and shaped from a solid piece of timber, or built in the 'brick' method.
- Griffin / Griffon / Gryphon - A griffin, also known as a griffon or gryphon, is a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. It is typically depicted as a powerful and majestic beast, with the body and legs of a lion and the head, wings, and talons of an eagle. The griffin is widely recognized as a symbol of strength, courage, and guardianship, and has been used in a variety of cultures throughout history.
In ancient mythology, the griffin was often associated with the gods and was considered a symbol of divine power. In ancient Greece, for example, the griffin was associated with the sun god Helios, while in ancient Egypt, it was associated with the goddess Hathor. In medieval European heraldry, the griffin was used as a symbol of strength, valour, and protection, and was often featured on the coats of arms of noble families. - Mounts - Mounts are used to describe bronze, brass and ormolu adornments on furniture especially quality furniture in the rococo and classical revival style, and are also the cabinet makers' name for the metal fittings on furniture, such as hinges, locks and handles, and metal edges and guards which protect furniture from damage.
- Gryphon - A gryphon is a mythical beast with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion.
This fictional character was devised by Lewis Carroll in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", written in 1865.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
A French antique exhibition quality centre table with marquetry inlay, circa 1860. 74 cm high, 31.5 cm wide, 85 cm deep
A Louis XV style gilt metal mounted marquetry inlaid side table, serpentine, with foliate inlaid panels above cabriole legs, 90 x 66 x 61 cm.
A Napoleon III ormolu mounted, cut brass, ebonized and tortoiseshell 'Boulle' centre table, circa 1860 having a lobed oval top, the frieze mounted with male and female ormolu masks, with a single frieze drawer, supported on cabriole legs 73 cm high, 140 cm
A 19th century style Bijouterie table, Elaborately carved with floral swags and clam shell motifs. The four tapering legs joining to a cross base. 76 x 64 x 45 cm.