Surtout de table de l'Histoire d'Eros et Psyché, in chased a - Lot 52

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  3. Surtout de table de l'Histoire d'Eros et Psyché, in chased a - Lot 52
  4. Lot n° 52 
Lot n° 52
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Estimation :
30000 - 50000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 129 400EUR
Surtout de table de l'Histoire d'Eros et Psyché, in chased a - Lot 52
Surtout de table de l'Histoire d'Eros et Psyché, in chased and gilded bronze (on two sides), in five parts with a mirror background, the historiated scenes showing on the outside Zeus ordering Hermes to lead Psyche to Olympus, with on either side the abduction of Psyche and Psyche contemplating Eros asleep, These scenes, reproduced around the main piece, are punctuated by figures of ancient women in caryatids supporting two- and four-branched bouquets of lights (twenty-four lights in all), with a frieze of vine branches running beneath the historiated scenes, the inner face also decorated with scenes from the story of Eros and Psyche riding Eros shooting an arrow, the chariot of love drawn by swans and Eros playing the lyre; (minor restorations; glass replaced). Empire period, circa 1810-1820. Height 45 cm; Width: 250 cm; Depth: 72 cm In addition to its highly unusual dimensions, this tabletop is distinguished above all by the historiated decoration around its edge. Several scenes illustrate the story of Eros and Psyche, taken from Apuleius' The Golden Ass (Book VI, chapters 23, 24). This unprecedented decorative approach sets this piece apart from those generally considered the most ambitious, with decorations of reclining antique women, bacchantes, vases or swans; these tops themselves are infinitely richer than the very common ones simply decorated with scrolls or vine branches. Another feature also places the surtout de l'Histoire de Psyché among the rarest: the presence of multiple arms of light integrated directly into the perimeter of the tray, with some bouquets grouping up to four branches. In its original configuration, accompanied by bowls and candelabras placed on the glass top, the appearance of this piece was probably of incomparable decorative impact. The main effect lay in the reflection of the light from the candelabras on the crystal of the goblets, on the one hand, and on the gilding of the bronze, on the other. In our case, this play of light was simply multiplied tenfold by the twenty-four lights overhanging the illustration of Apuleius' story. Table tops with light arms are quite rare among today's listed table tops. Light arms appeared around 1810, probably at the instigation of Claude Galle (oral information from Jean-Dominique Augarde). The closest example is undoubtedly the one preserved in the White House in Washington, on which caryatids carry two arms of light. This particular piece was delivered by Denière and Matelin in 1816 to President James Monroe (1758-1831). Also worthy of mention is the surtout presented by the Richard Redding gallery (Gündisau, Switzerland) attributed to Claude Galle, comprising twelve two-light candelabra, as well as the one signed by Pierre Philippe Thomire sold by Christie's in New York on March 24, 2016, lot 74, with sixteen lights. With regard to the above-mentioned trays described in archival documents, a particularly interesting mention was found in the inventory of the bronzier Claude Galle in 1811: "a five-piece rich tray with peacock figures bearing girandoles with twenty-four lights all gilded with matte with colored paint glazes model of Galle, estimated at the sum of four thousand two hundred and ten francs". However, if the number of trays and the number of lights correspond to the story of Eros and Psyche, the latter does not include a peacock figure; moreover, it remains highly unlikely that the expert omitted to describe the particularly remarkable historiated scenes. These three comparisons with Claude Galle, Pierre Philippe Thomire and, above all, Denière and Matelin, could all appear to be satisfactory, given the quality of these bronzemakers, in the absence of additional elements, notably comparisons, concerning the exceptional nature of the historiated decoration on the tableware presented here. Expert : Pierre-François DAYOT.
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