Large Restauration period centerpiece ( surtout de table) composed of a four-piece, mirrored platter mounted in a gilt bronze, openwork setting. The intricate sculpting of the gilt bronze features thyrses, crowns, and feminine characters holding long grapevine garlands, which are all symbols attributed to the Roman god, Bacchus. The centerpiece rests on ten supports with clawed feet that are embellished with scrollwork and palmettes and topped with a basket of fruit.
Circa: 1820
Dim: 103.9 in (8 ft, 8 in), W: 24.8 in, H: 7 in
Dim: L: 264 cm, W: 63 cm, H: 18 cm
Literature
Centerpieces that were richly decorated with silver, copper, or bronze were an integral part of table decorations of great meals during the 19th century. The practice of garnishing the center of dining room tables with works of art dates back centuries. For example, during the 14th and 15th centuries, desserts often took on the appearance of a centerpiece, but it was during the 17th century that the use of an artistic centerpiece became commonplace, associating decorative objects with lighting and opulent bouquets of flowers. These objects were often displayed on a large platter composed of one or more pieces that were sometimes mirrored and sometimes set in a decorative framework.
