French Empire Single Bed with Ormolu Decorations
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.
- Empire Style - The Empire style was a version of neo-classicism popular from 1800 to 1830, coinciding with the rule of Napoleon I from 1840-15. In England the style corrosponds with the Regency style and in the United States to the Federal style.
The style is inspired by classical Rome and Greece, as reflected in the decorative motifs in the the design such as paterae, guilloches, acanthus and swags, and pieces are lavishly decorated with applied gilded decoration.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
Antique 19th century French Gothic hall bench, fitted with recessed carved panels, to the front, and backboard, approx 130 cm high, 155 cm wide, 56 cm deep
Antique French rosewood double bed, fitted with a well carved crested head board, along with long bolster cushion and bed spread
19th century French daybed. Fruit wooden pine with mattress
A French mahogany and brass inlaid bed, circa 1880s. 136 cm wide, 153.5 cm high