Large cloisonné enamel jardinière attributed to Barbedienne

This beautiful large central circular form cloisonné enamel jardinière is decorated with flowers and butterflies on a blue ground, with a pierced ormolu rim featuring a pineapple motif, all resting on a finely cast ormolu base with four legs in the form of winged Foo lions.

It is very much in the manner of objects in enamel produced by Ferdinand Barbedienne in Paris in the last quarter of the 19th century, which proved universally popular. Many of these pieces were designed by Edouard Lievre (d. 1886) in the Orientalist style. 

This particular work consists of Chinese enamel, dating to the 19th century, and French ormolu mounts, also dating to the 19th century, and attributed to Barbedienne. This combination of Chinese traditional crafts with European metalwork was hugely successful and led to beautiful works such as this, synthesising the very best of 19th century crafts and design.