Big Antique Cup In Onyx Gilded And Silvered Bronzes Att.Eugéne Cornu XIXéme

Spectacular and important antique cup in Onyx of Algeria XIXéme circa 1870/80, Mounting of bronzes engraved and gilded and silvered, attribution to Eugéne Cornu. Object of great decoration, versatility of sites, extraordinary veining.

Superb Dimensions: Height: 32 cm Base 24cmx24cm Weight: 13kg
See with a meter the proportions; Superb condition, no lacks, nor accidents, tiny traces of age and use and very few chips (old object). Everything is original. Beautiful gilding and silvering of origin, the whole was dismounted, cleaned and reassembled. Nice shine on the Onyx. Provenance: France, castle of the South West.

This cup is richly molded and very decorative, Beautiful body with ovoid base with wide neck very flared flat band in relief in the upper part, and on a nice foot shower in the lower part, with side handles with heads of roaring lions and with rich rings decorated, and beautiful gold and silver bronzes with friezes of flat gadroons and pearls in the Antique, in the upper part and on the foot of the Cup. The whole of the bronzes is with contrast of bronzes gilded and silvered, of the most beautiful effect. This cup rests on a magnificent square base with various and numerous moldings with evolutions, including a reversed cavet in the central part, and ends with four beautiful feet protruding claws in ecoinçons decorated with volutes and leaves.

Biblio: After analysis of the set, materials, assembly, decorations, and its composition, and the period. Reference of the model see link at the end of the description, Label disappeared.

This cup is ATTRIBUTED TO LOUIS FRANÇOIS EUGÈNE CORNU (1827-1899) for the COMPAGNIE DES MARBRES ONYX of ALGERIA (1858-1886).

Eugène Cornu is a French sculptor and bronzemaker, whose date of birth is unknown, died in 1875. He first worked as a draughtsman and then took over the management of the Tahan House. In 1858, he became the creator and director of the Compagnie des Marbres et Onyx d'Algérie of A. Pallu & Co. Then Gustave Viot became the owner of these mines and Eugène Cornu continued to collaborate within the Company. They will elaborate luxurious articles mixing onyx, bronze and champlevé enamels, until it bears its name: "Société des Onyx d'Algérie E. Cornu et Cie". After his death in 1875, the company was taken over by H. Journet, and the onyx mines in the Oran region continued to be exploited until the beginning of the 20th century. Along with Ferdinand Barbedienne or Bernard-Alfred Meyer was considered one of the best manufacturers of luxury goods in Paris during the Second Empire.

Eugène Cornu participated in many World Fairs, those of 1862, 1871, 1872 in London and 1867 in Paris. At the latter, he was awarded a gold medal for an impressive pair of onyx, bronze and enamel vases (signed G. Viot et Cie, Exposition de 1867, Eugène Cornu Inventeur).

This piece is emblematic of the antique trend of the 19th century and particularly of the Second Empire. The Egyptian campaign of Napoleon in 1798 launched the fashion of Egyptomania. The shapes, colors, patterns, and iconography of Greek and Egyptian antiquity became very popular in the West. In addition, onyx is a stone that was widely used in antiquity for cameos and as an ornament for decorative objects.

The Compagnie des marbres et onyx d'Algérie, run by Gustave Viot from 1858, opened a store ten years later at 24 Boulevard des Italiens in Paris, selling furniture combining onyx with gilt bronze and enamel. The designer François-Eugène Cornu was responsible for the artistic direction. He was awarded one prize after another at the World's Fairs, such as the gold medal at the 1867 Fair.

This new material became the symbol of luxury and exuberance under the Second Empire. The most famous courtesan in Paris, Blanche de Pavïa, commissioned a monumental staircase for her mansion on the Champs-Élysées, entirely covered in onyx, in which she is depicted naked and covered with jewels. Just as the basin in Salammbô's apartment is covered with onyx marble, her bathroom and her legendary bathtub are entirely encrusted with it.

Reference in sale of a model of cut close to the proposed model: See: https://www.rouillac.com/fr/lot-552-137147-attribue_louis_francois_eugene_cornu

Ref: F39Z88POPW