French Neoclassical style gilt and patinated bronze vase

The vase is of amphora form, and stands on a gilt bronze (ormolu) square base with canted corners. This base is set on four patinated bronze feet, cast as the heads of sea monsters.

Gilt bronze bands, decorated with stylised foliate patterns and gadrooning, encircle the vase’s splayed stem. Its lower section features patinated bronze scales, overlaid with gilt bronze floral motifs, and its patinated upper half is smooth. The vase’s ovoid body is patinated and is decorated with gilt bronze seahorses within shaped frames. The body’s front and reverse feature central classical male masks of sea gods, one young and clean-shaven and the other older and bearded.

The vase is mounted with two handles, which take the form of patinated bronze putti, with scrolled and tapering gilt bronze lower bodies. These muscular putti wear gilt bronze hats and chest belts, and they restrain squirming gilt bronze sea monsters under their arms. The vase’s flared patinated bronze neck is encircled by a gilt bronze gadrooned band, and its mouth is decorated with a gilt bronze stylised leaf-and-dart frilled edge.