A pair of Paris gold-ground two-handled slender oviform vases

CIRCA 1820

Details

A pair of Paris gold-ground two-handled slender oviform vases
Circa 1820
The sides of each vase with gilt ciselé mythological scenes, the shoulders with white-ground friezes moulded with green winged lions, harps and torches between gilt bands and white bead ornament, divided by tapering herm handles with white biscuit Egyptian sphynx heads surmounted by seated winged griffins, the high flared necks with ciselé angels, winged lions, putti and scrolling foliage, the lower parts with up-turned acanthus leaves, the waisted socles on square verde antico marble bases (damages and extensive restorations, probably lacking dividing ormolu collars, chip to nose of one sphynx and base of one vase neck, chipping to bases)
37 in. (94 cm.) high overall (2)

Lot Essay

One vase is gilded after Guido Reni with The slaying of Nessus with the Centaur Nessus attempting to ravish Deianeira, Hercules's wife, and the reverse depicts Aeneas descending into the underworld, to find his dead father, protected by the mistletoe and guided by the Cumaean Sibyl. The other vase is gilded with the Centaur Chiron teaching the young Achilles, and the reverse is gilded with an allegorical scene with Venus, Cupid and Time.

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