Beautiful pair of Empire ormolu andirons. Empire period, early 19th century circa 1808, made by Claude Galle.
Beautiful model decorated with sphinxes sitting on the terrace and vases.
That pattern of andirons is listed with variations in the book The hour, the fire, the light, The Bronzes of the Mobilier National 1800 - 1870 (n°71 page 134) as a pattern that was made for the French Impress in 1808 for her bathroom at Compiegne palace. Our piece is a variation of the Compiegne piece : same sphinx on a different base.
Beautiful model. Matt gilt attenuated ; it mostly disappeared due to the heat of the fireplace.Length : 30cmHeight : 25cmDepth : 10cm
