Pair of French Empire Ormolu Ewers with Winged Maidens, Att. to Claude Galle

Description

Important & Rare Pair of French Empire Period (circa 1805) Ormolu Ewers with Winged Maidens, Cupid Busts, Masks,and Vert de Mer Marble Bases, Attributed to Claude Galle The pair is modeled in elongated ovoid ewer form and cast in ormolu with a matte and burnished surface. Each vessel rises from a spreading circular socle above a square marble plinth of dark green Vert de Mer marble with pale veining. The domed foot is bordered with a knurled band and supports an ovoid body divided by a twisted rope molding at the central joint. Openwork mounts encircle the lower body and are cast with alternating anthemia, palmettes, and pierced acanthus leaves. The neck is framed by a foliate collar composed of repeating leaf forms, while the curved spout projects forward with a hooked rim and applied foliate ornament extending beneath the lip. The rear handle is formed as a channelled and scrolling support terminating at the lower body in a bearded mask surrounded by foliage. Above, each handle is surmounted by a winged classical maiden shown leaning forward and clasping the rim with both hands. The maidens are modeled with draped lower garments, exposed torsos, curled hair gathered beneath a headband, and upward sweeping wings with defined feather divisions. The gilt surface retains warm tonal variation and the marble bases provide a contrasting support beneath the ormolu bodies. The ewers are attributed to Claude Galle, the French maître fondeur and bronzier whose workshop supplied gilt bronze furnishings and decorative objects during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Galle produced a range of classical forms including ewers, urns, clock cases, and lighting devices incorporating figural mounts and architectural ornament. Comparable ewers attributed to his workshop are recorded in collections including Pavlovsk Palace and Yusupov Palace in Saint Petersburg, Ostankino Palace in Moscow, and the Württemberg Landesmuseum in Stuttgart. Related examples featuring winged female figures integrated into the handle structure are illustrated in published studies of Empire bronze furnishings. Claude Galle established one of the leading bronze workshops in Paris after assuming the atelier of Pierre Foy in 1788 and later operating from Quai de la Monnaie and Rue Vivienne. His workshop supplied bronzes d’ameublement for imperial residences including Fontainebleau, Saint Cloud, the Tuileries, and other royal and imperial commissions. Works attributed to Galle are recognized for precise chasing, sculptural casting, and the integration of classical motifs within functional forms. The present pair reflects these characteristics through the modeled winged maidens, pierced anthemion and acanthus ornament, and balanced proportions. The scale, preserved ormolu surface, and sculptural detail support the pair’s high quality, strong condition, and desirability within Empire decorative arts. Circa 1805. Hight: 22.5"

Details

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