A pair of French ormolu and glass fish-bowls and stands

IN THE CHINOISERIE STYLE, CIRCA 1910

Details

A pair of French ormolu and glass fish-bowls and stands
In the Chinoiserie Style, Circa 1910
Each bowl of sphere shape within a bamboo-cast frame with an everted lip and four handles, on four elephant-head supports; on a matching gueridon, with a circular inset brèche violette marble top, above a frieze decorated with lambrequin and tassels, on three twin-bamboo supports, each with an elephant-head terminal, joined by a shaped undertier with central marble inset disc, on spreading feet, stamped variously FB to the underside of the metal
52 in.(132 cm.) high overall;
The bowl: 19 in. (48.5cm.) high; 18½ in. (47cm.) diameter
The gueridon: 32½ in. (82.5cm.) high (2)

Sale room notice

Please note that in our opinion these are of recent manufacture and not as dated in the catalogue.

Lot Essay

These exotic fish-bowls and stands are conceived in the chinoiserie style associated with Gabriel Viardot (see lots 127 - 132). The firm of Ferdinand Barbedienne, the renowned Parisian fondeur produced articles in this style to satisfy the demand for pieces of an exotic theme, popularised by the pavilions exhibiting Far Eastern works brought to the major International Exhibitions during the second half of the 19th century.
A similar bowl with stand was sold at Sotheby's, New York, 29 April 1998, lot 183 and another was sold at Sotheby's, London, 27 September 1991, lot 23.

More from Nineteenth Century Furniture & WoA

View All