Pair of Empire style gilt and patinated bronze cassolettes

The cassolettes—which are designed for storing perfumes or pot-pourri—stand on gilt bronze (ormolu) triform bases. These bases are mounted with central pyramidal patinated bronze features, which are decorated with gilt bronze palmette motifs and female torchbearers. These are topped by gilt bronze urns, each mounted with two flaming satyr head handles. 

Each cassolette features three gilt bronze monopodia supports in the form of sphinxes. Each support is shaped like a winged female that stands on a single leg, terminating in a lion’s foot.

Supported on the sphinxes’ heads and wings are shallow patinated bronze bowls. These are decorated, on their undersides, with gilt bronze foliate pinecone drop-finials, and their rims are edged with gilt bronze egg-and-dart bands. The bowls are covered by domed patinated bronze lids which are crowned by gilt bronze pinecone finials.