18th C French Ormolu-Mounted Carrara Marble Pot-Pourri Cassolettes on Paw Feet

Description

Pair of 18th Century Louis XVI French Ormolu Mounted Carrara Marble Pot-Pourri Vases / Casolettes on Lion’s Paw Feet This pair of Louis XVI casolettes is formed from smooth Carrara marble bodies set within gilt bronze tripod stands. Each vessel has a tapered marble form rising to an openwork ormolu collar with a pierced band, mounted with three upright supports that connect the body to the tripod base. The vessels include removable marble lids topped with a pinecone finial; with the lids in place, they function as closed pot-pourri vases, and when the lids are reversed, they convert into candle holders with a fitted candle nozzle revealed on the underside. Festooned chains hang between the supports, each terminating in pendant ormolu husks. The marble stands on a shaped triangular plinth supported by ormolu lion’s paw feet. The gilt bronze mounts are all original to the period and display well-defined leafwork, husk drops, and beading consistent with 18th century Louis XVI decorative vocabulary. The pinecone finial is sharply cast, and the pierced gallery shows a continuous pattern that is clean and even. The lion’s paw feet are formed with clear toe articulation and rest firmly on the underside’s original ormolu pads. The casolettes survive in notably good condition with stable marble surfaces and unchanged gilt surfaces showing controlled age. All chains, pendants, and supports remain complete. These pieces are characteristic of late 18th century French decorative production, combining white Carrara marble with gilt bronze mounts in a tripod cassolette form commonly associated with Louis XVI furnishings. Their convertible function, allowing use as either lidded vases or candle holders, aligns with documented multifunctional designs of the period. The overall structure, casting quality, and preserved condition make the pair suitable for presentation in a formal interior or as a focal point in a collection of French classical decorative arts.

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