Antique Gilt Bronze Samson Porcelain Centrepiece, 19th Century

This is a beautiful antique French Grand Tour dark patinated bronze and ormolu urn with ormolu liner, C1850 in date. This stunning bronze is superbly cast and has an elegant brown...

This is a superb quality antique Italian Pietra Dura mounted, gilt brass and alabaster table-centre comport dish, dating from the late 19th century. With striking pierced Neo-Gothic chased brass mounts this splendid alabaster dish is set with six highly decorative pietra dura roundels depicting various floral decoration. It is raised on a sturdy circular brass base. It is a sumptuous piece which will make a great statement in any special room. Condition: In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 8 x width 29 x depth 29 Dimensions in inches: Height 3.1 x width 11.4 x depth 11.4 Pietra Dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art. Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade. The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian. But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)" The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying colored marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...." Giovanni Montelatici...

This is an impressive and highly decorative French ormolu tazza, mid-19th century in date. It features twin handles to either side and the centre is inset with a beautiful Limoges...

This is a beautiful antique Italian Naples Capodimonte porcelain urn, late 19th Century in date and bearing the Naples Capodimonte blue painted crown s...

Substantial porcelain pedestal bowl embellished with white medallions set on a sky blue background. On one side of the bowl, the medallion is decorated with a pastoral scene depictin...

19th Century hand painted gilt gold design porcelain with footed bronze mounted decorative centerpiece with side handles. The centerpiece is in great condition. Minor wear consistent...

An exquisite Antique French Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted Chinese porcelain centerpiece. The finely crafted porcelain bowl, likely from the Qing dynasty, is richly enamel-paint...

Graceful porcelain and gilt bronze centerpiece made in France in the late 19th century, featuring colorful floral scenes painted on the porcelain, capturing the beauty of nature. Add...