Claude Galle, Large Pair of Ewers, Early XIXth Century.

Very elegant pair of imposing chiseled, patinated and gilded bronze ewers, the handle decorated with a winged female figure, the spout of a mask of a bearded man (symbolizing a river god), the body embellished with a frieze of acanthus leaves and palms, resting on a square base

This very beautiful pair of ewers with slender shapes, surmounted by busts of graceful winged young women, (characteristic of the work of Claude Galle 1759-1815, received master in 1786) is part of a famous series of vases or ewers to young winged women, some examples of which are illustrated in H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel, et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, pp.364-5.
Among these, a set comprising a pendulum and a pair of ewers practically identical to the present pair, executed by Galle in 1815 (of which an identical pair is in the Palace of Pavlovsk, ill. Op.Cit., fig. 5.12. 6).
Let us also mention a pair of ewers attributed to Galle, sold at Christie's London on November 13, 2003, lot 108.
Also presented in: Gli Splendori del Bronzo, Mobili e Oggetti d'Arredo tra Francia et Italia 1750-1850 » 2002, p. 140 no. 58.

These ewers were particularly sought after by collectors in England, but also in Russia where the models were often copied, including in other materials, in particular by Andrëi Voronikhin (1759-1814) and the bronzier Friedriech Bergenfeldt (1768-1822) .
Arcadi Gaydamak, Russian Empire, Architecture, Decorative and Applied Arts, Interior Decoration 1800-1830, 2000, p. 171, a similar pair of gilt bronze ewers, on the fireplace in the Blue Salon of the Yusupov Palace in Saint Petersburg.

Very good state of conservation.

End of the Empire period, around 1815-1820

Attributed to Claude Galle, or Gerard-Jean Galle who continued to produce his father's models under the Restoration.

Height: 58cm

Ref: KG8PPH2CC6