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A VERY FINE AND SUBSTANTIAL PAIR OF LOUIS XVI STYLE ORMOLU-MOUNTED BLACK SLATE URNS, NOW FITTED AS LAMPS
Paris, France | circa second half of the 19th century | unmarked
Item # 403PUW11D
An exquisite pair of oversized polished black slate urns that were converted into lamps during the first half of the 20th century, they are designed in the Louis XVI taste with very finely chased and chiseled ormolu mounts throughout. The handles are beautifully fluted with a cross-hatched chiseling within the flutes and a high-polish where raised while acanthus foliage wraps over the curved handles and grape leaves flow outward from the handle joint with the body of the urn. Each urn retains its original finial, which has been remounted as the finial for the lamp over a high-polished brass stem projecting from the lid with a repeating ring of leaves curving over the lid. The lamps are raised over a squared footer stepping out into a squared bronze footer. An extraordinary presentation - bold, exquisite.
Provenance:
- By repute acquired at Parke Bernet Galleries, Inc., New York in the 1960s
- Sotheby's New York, March 26, 1994, lot 99, achieved $ 10,350 USD - a photocopy of the original receipt will be included in the sale packet
- Private Collection, Greenwich, CT
Measurements: 43 3/8" H; base is 7" D x 7" W
Condition Report:
Urns converted to lamps, but with all original parts retained (they can likely be returned to original urn-form with minimal difficulty). One lid with several repaired cracks, bases with some repaired cracks and filled losses. Scratches, scuffs and small chips to the body. Spots of wear to the gilding, overall remaining vibrant and a brilliant display. Both lamps sticks replaced with a high quality polished brass (versus the plastic "candle" cover formerly in place). Both lamps with brand-new wiring with braided cord, ready to place.