Antique French ormolu and ceramic centrepiece tazza

The Napoleon III period saw a resurgence in the popularity of historic French styles of decoration, and this fine centrepiece tazza exudes the luxurious decadence of the Baroque style, which swept through France in the 17th Century under the reign of King Louis XIV.

The centrepiece tazza is formed as a circular ceramic dish held aloft on an ormolu support. The inside of the dish is beautifully painted with a scrolling central bouquet of summer flowers on a white ground, framed within a red ground border enhanced with gold and white detailing of scrolling arabesques and flowers. The reverse side is painted with abstract designs in red and gold on a white ground.

The ormolu support, upon which the dish is held, is cast to encase the rim of the dish with scrolls, flowers and leafy foliage, as well as entwined dolphins and other sea creatures. The ormolu extends downwards to form a central support shaped as three Baroque style dolphins, which are set onto a tri-form base of black marble.