A Very Impressive & superbly cast French Gilt Bronze and Champleve Enamel Twin Handle Centerpiece of oval outline, of museum quality. Firmly attributed to the work of Ferdinand Barbedienne, last half of the Nineteenth Century. 

The main bowl with lavish cast scrolling handles, each mounted with perched birds, supported on a central bronze base flanked by two Cherubs seated on a naturalistic shaped base. 

Condition: Good original condition, nice surface patination, professionally re-gold plated and bronze patinated. 

Height: (entire) 7.25” (18.5cm). Width: (at top including handles) 10.5" (26.5cm). Depth: (at top) 6” (15cm). 

Shipped to Forth Worth, Texas, USA.  

Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) established his Parisian foundry in 1839 and quickly became one of the most active and distinguished French bronziers of the 19th century. In addition to bronze réductions originating from Barbedienne's previous partnership with Achille Collas, the firm also produced decorative objects in styles reflecting the various exotic and revival trends popular at the time, as is evident in the present lot elegantly rendered in the Greek revival and renaissance manner. After Barbedienne's death the business was taken over by his nephew, Leblanc-Barbedienne, and continued until 1953.