Sevres style porcelain candelabrum with ormolu mountings

A fine and large ormolu and Sevres style porcelain candelabrum,…
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A fine and large ormolu and Sevres style porcelain candelabrum, last quarter 19th century, of seven lights, the raised central light with a flamiform finial cap, the other lights on scrolling reeded and foliate branches radiating from the stem, the whole raised on (and removable from) a porcelain vase of classical baluster form mounted on a square platform base, the body of the vase decorated to one side with a scene of classical maidens and winged putto resting on clouds and to the other with a river landscape, signed Eug[ene] Poitevin, the neck and foot bleu celeste glazed, the vase mounted in finely modelled and chased ormolu with a pair of seated fauness figures to the shoulder above a band of music making putti in low relief and satyr masks below, the ormolu base set with gilt decorated bleu celeste porcelain panels, 107 cm high, 47 cm wide

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  • 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.
  • Putto / Putti / Amorino / Amorini - A putto (plural: putti) or amerino (plural: amerini) is a cherub or cupid frequently appearing in both mythological and religious paintings and sculpture, especially of the Renaissance and Baroque periods and later used as a decorative element in the design of furniture, ceramics, statuary etc. They are usually depicted as chubby males, or of indeterminate gender, often with wings. Their depiction may represent an association with love, heaven, peace or prosperity.
  • Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
  • Satyr - A creature from Greek mythology with goat-like features, including a bearded face and horns, a man's torso, hairy legs and cloven hooves and a tail. As attendants of Bacchus, satyrs sometimes carry grapes or pitchers of wine. As spitis of fertility they may carry a cornucopia or basket of fruit.

    They are also used to portray lust, and are often depicted with a leering expression. As well as being depicted singly or in a group in sculpture and candelabra, they also appear as motifs on ceramics, glass, silver and gold objects.
  • Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.

    Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.

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