A FRENCH ORMOLU, SILVERED BRONZE AND LIMOGES ENAMEL MIRROR, in the Renaissance style, by F. Barbedienne, the octagonal plate with bevelled edges within a cushion-shaped frame with eight further mirrored panels, the surround pierced and cast with arabesque tracery, inset with four rectangular limoges enamel panels, two inscribed LE MATIN and LE SOIR, with four enamel roundels painted with cherubs, the lower right hand edge of the frame inscribed MAISON BARBEDIENNE, PARIS C. SEVIN, INV. 1867 D. ATTARGE FECIT (lacking finials; the gilding and silvering worn and tarnished; one mount loose), second half 19th century

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A FRENCH ORMOLU, SILVERED BRONZE AND LIMOGES ENAMEL MIRROR, in the Renaissance style, by F. Barbedienne, the octagonal plate with bevelled edges within a cushion-shaped frame with eight further mirrored panels, the surround pierced and cast with arabesque tracery, inset with four rectangular limoges enamel panels, two inscribed LE MATIN and LE SOIR, with four enamel roundels painted with cherubs, the lower right hand edge of the frame inscribed MAISON BARBEDIENNE, PARIS C. SEVIN, INV. 1867 D. ATTARGE FECIT (lacking finials; the gilding and silvering worn and tarnished; one mount loose), second half 19th century
42in. (107cm.) wide; 42in. (107cm.) high; 2½in. (6.5cm.) deep

Lot Essay

Designed by Louis Constant Sévin (d. 1888), the mirror-bordered frame is embellished with 'arabesque' tracery in the French Renaissance style and incorporates Limoges medallions of Cupids together with tablets depicting Apollo's sisters, the Moon Goddess Diana with her bow and the Dawn Goddess Aurora bearing a dart and supported by Pegasus. Sévin who was sculpteur-ornemaniste to Ferdinand Barbedienne (d. 1892), and whose eclectic work of great richness won a medal at the 1867 Paris Exhibition, had previously worked for Jouhanneaud and Dubois, Limoges Porcelain Manufacturers of Paris.

Désiré Attarge (d. 1878) was ciseleur-ornemaniste to Barbedienne and his skilled precision as a chaser was said to transform bronze into goldsmith's work.

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