Pair Antique French Ormolu Bronze & Porcelain Brackets

Included here is a pair of French gilded bronze brackets from the mid to late nineteenth century, featuring their original hand-painted porcelain plaques each depicting a unique portrait of a lady of the court. Believed to date from the Napoleon III period (1848-1870). They have an architectural form with neoclassical elements, including brackets, rosettes, reed-and-tie molding and swag and drapery designs. They each measure 10.5" wide, 8.5" tall and 4.5" deep, and each weighs an estimated 8-12 lbs. The porcelain plaques each measure 4" by 3" and have a turquoise ground and gilded borders in the manner of Sevres. Plaques are unmarked. Provenance provided upon request. The ArtFact database shows only one auction record of a similar pair of brackets. On April 11, 2007 in New York, Christie's lot 206 sold for an impressive $24,000 including buyer's premium. That pair are identical in form to ours and no doubt were cast by the same foundry. The only differences between these pairs are the painted portraits and the inclusion of undecorated turquoise medallions in the upper right and left sides on the pair sold by Christie's. These items reside on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York city and may be seen by appointment. Additional images forwarded upon request.