Sevres Vase with Gilt Bronze Mount, 19th Century

• Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.
  
  For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.
  
  Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
• Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
• Socle - The short plinth, usually cylindrical, that serves as a pedestal for a sculpture or vase
• Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
  
  The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
  
  It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
• Lion's Paw - The decorative lion's paw has been used in furniture, silver, and ceramics for centuries. It is a stylized representation of the paw of a lion, often depicted in a highly realistic or stylized form.
  
  In furniture design, lion's paws were popular in the neoclassical and Empire styles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They were often used as feet on tables, chairs, and other pieces of furniture. The lion's paw was a popular motif for furniture makers because it added a sense of grandeur and regalness to their pieces.
  
  In silverware design, the lion's paw was often used on the feet of tea and coffee pots, as well as on other pieces of silverware such as wine coolers and tureens. The lion's paw was often used in combination with other neoclassical motifs, such as acanthus leaves or grape clusters, to create a sense of grandeur and classical elegance.
  
  In ceramics, lion's paws were commonly used as feet on vases, urns, and other pottery items. The lion's paw was often depicted in relief or as a highly stylized form, and was sometimes used in combination with other decorative elements, such as garlands or swags.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Sevres (France) and Sevres style, items
  • house wares 275
  • vases and urns 224