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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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A fine pair of Louis XVI gilt bronze and bleu turquoise cassolettes shaped as tripod athéniennes, each with a domed cover surmounted by a stiff leaf and shaped finial, the cover opening to reveal a turned candle holder, the ovoid body mounted with a gilt band from which hang three sets of ribbon-tied fruiting vine wreaths, on a stiff-leaf cup and shaped central shaft with ring connecting three monopodiae supports with cloven feet, each headed by a Satyr head and supported on a circular plinth on a circular bleu turquoise base with gilt beaded border Paris, date circa 1780 Height 26.5 cm. each. Though of French origin, the design for this pair of cassolettes with reversible tops to form ‘candle vases’ was almost certainly inspired by English prototypes made by Matthew Boulton and his partner John Fothergill of the Soho manufactory in Birmingham. Among Boulton’s products was a similar pair with goat’s heads dating from 1768 but still in production during the 1780’s. Boulton and Fothergill sold a number of their products abroad, especially to the Russian and European aristocracy and would certainly have been seen by the Paris craftsmen |