Object Description
Pair of French Empire style ormolu, wood and marble pedestals
French, 20th Century
Height 83cm, diameter 52cm
This superb pair of French 20th century pedestals celebrates the very refined and elegant Empire style.
Each pedestal is mounted with a round marble top, the surface of the stone heavily veined and coloured in darker shades of red and grey. Several ormolu mounts of an identical design depicting ribbon tied garlands adorn the frieze below.
Three tapering legs are covered with variously patterned veneers. Each one is surmounted by a grand winged eagle, a popular symbol within the Empire style. This relates to the ancient Egyptian decorative arts which were a big inspiration for the French style. Human feet shaped ormolu pieces are placed at the bottom of the legs.
A triangular base with concave sides as well as squashed bun ormolu feet support both pieces.
This pair of pedestals would be a magnificent addition to one’s space on which other decorative objects, such as vases or sculptures can be displayed.