Pair of Louis XVI style ormolu mounted malachite vases
£32,000
The vases in this pair, crafted from ormolu and malachite in the Louis XVI style, take the form of classical kraters, with broad bodies and scrolling foliate handles.
The vases are set on square ormolu bases moulded with foliate friezes and mounted with large ormolu grasping acanthus leaves used to secure the vases onto the bases. The malachite foot of each vase narrows into a waisted socle, which in turn supports the large body of the vase itself. Between the socle and the body of each vase, a belt of ormolu leaves extends upwards, curling round to form the handles, before continuing along the lip of the vase. Each vase is topped with a domed malachite lid, which is surmounted by an elaborate ormolu pomegranate finial.