19TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF FRENCH ORMOLU CHENETS
19th Century
Each surmounted by the opposing figures of Venus and Vulcan, his bellows by his side, upon naturalistically cast rocky plinths with scrolling acanthus and rockwork C-scrolls, both stamped twice with a spurious C couronné poinçon
Vulcan: 14¼ in. (36 cm.) high; 14½ in. (37 cm.) wide; 7½ in. (19 cm.) deep
Venus: 14 in. (35.5 cm.) high; 15 in. (38 cm.) wide; 8¾ in. (22 cm.) deep (2)

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 15 December 1994, lot 415.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

These chenets derive from an 18th Century model, such as the pair of chenets purchased in Paris in 1725 by Carl William Friedrich, Margrave of Ansbach, which is now in the Residenz Ansbach (see in H. Ottomeyer/P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 69, fig. 1.10.5). The original model was probably inspired by the celebrated chenets by Jacques Caffieri, examples of which are in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle (ibid, p.113, fig. 2.4.5).
A closely related pair of chenets was sold at Christie's, London, 9 December 1993, lot 80.

More from The Dr Anton C.R.Dreesmann Collection European Furniture

View All