Pair Antique French Empire Ormolu Bronze Urns Vases

This pair of French Empire mounted urns have a tapered vase shape with dark patination, are mounted on rouge griotte marble bases, and are fitted with angular handles rising from bearded lion masks. Each measures 12.7 cm (5") wide and deep at the base, and 54 cm (21.25") to the top where the finials screw down, and 57.2 cm (22.5") to the tops of the finials. The lower sections are decorated with foliate mounts and the pedestals feature mounts depicting rosettes and lyres. Sometime in the early twentieth century each were drilled to accommodate lamp hardware, and bronze bases with fitted side holes to accommodate lamp wiring were also added. Brass finials decorate the top of each vase, and the finials do not match. The matching sections beneath the finials have some corrosion and white residue.  Sockets and wiring may be added for an additional $250. Or, if you wish to use them as decorative objects, matching brass finials could certainly be sourced very easily. These urns are almost identical in design, size, decoration and craftsmanship to works attributed by Sotheby's to the French bronzier Claude Galle (1759-1815), who is said to have been one of the most important bronze artists of the post-revolutionary period. He was a principal supplier of decorative art for the chateaus Fontainebleau, Compiègne, Rambouillet, and Trianons. See Sotheby's New York lot 108, 10/4/06, containing a single urn attributed to Galle, which sold for $7,800. (See image here in our listing.)