Empire style marble and gilt bronze writing desk. It is composed of two cups with removable glass receptacles. The lids are decorated with friezes of foliage and braids. At the center is a gilded bronze winged sphinx wearing a nemes, an Egyptian headdress. Its tail is folded over a finial. The whole rests on a rectangular green marble base with four circular feet, decorated with granulations, and featuring a hollowed-out penholder. The marble is embellished with a frieze of ovals and a mascaron representing Mercury with his winged petascus. This refers to the function of the object, Mercury being the messenger god. This inkwell reflects the lavish, polychromatic tastes of the Second Empire under Napoleon III.
Napoleon III period
Circa: 1860
Dim: W:40cm, D:19cm, H:20cm
Condition report: in good condition
- Reference :
- 3046
- Availability :
- Sold
- Width :
- 40 (cm)
- Height :
- 20 (cm)
- Depth :
- 19 (cm)
- Identifier Exists:
- False
