Ferdinand Barbedienne 1810-1892 AN EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED ROUGE GRIOTTE CENTERPIECE PARIS, CIRCA 1875

in the Renaissance revival style, the front and reverse similarly decorated with the mask of Medusa beneath a shell and flanked by swirling foliate acanthus with gadrooned rim, the handles cast with seated thinking putti on lion head-cast handles, signed F. BARBEDIENNE.

Overall in very good condition, minor traces of oxidition to gilt-bronze mounts in places with wear mostly to the handles.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) started his Parisian foundry in 1839, which quickly became one of the most active and distinguished French bronziers of the 19th century. In addition to bronze réduction originating from Barbedienne's previous partnership with Achille Collas, the firm also produced decorative objects in styles reflecting the various exotic and revival trends popular at the time, as in the present lot elegantly rendered in the Renaissance revival manner, a style that in Europe spanned the 1840s through the the 1890s. After Ferdinand's death the business was taken over by his nephew, Leblanc-Barbedienne, and continued until 1953.