Beschreibung:

A pair of fine and rare French banded amethyst quartz and ormolu mounted pot pourri urns and covers, 19th century, each domed cover with a pierced guilloche rim cast with flowerheads, descending to ovoid bodies festooned with fruiting vine and cast with twin satyr mask handles, above a waisted socle and square section plinth cast with imbricated laurel, 37cm high, 15cm wideProvenance: Private Collection, LancashireWith its striking colours and intricate figuring, amethyst quartz has been used by the finest bronziers and furniture makers throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries. A pair of vases by Matthew Boulton cut from the same, rare material, from the collection of the Earls of Portalington, was offered at Bonhams, 20 November 2007, lot 77 (£96,000). While the material was evidently used by important makers in England, the present lot is more likely French in origin. The model, with its fine fruiting garland in the style of Duplessis, and its distinctive wreath finials, has appeared at Sotheby's Amsterdam, 16 April 2007, lot 339, only the bodies were executed in white marble.Interestingly, the wreath finial and pierced rim adorned with flowerheads share distinct similarities with Meissen shapes of the late 19th century. Note for example the pair of cobalt-ground urns sold at Christie's New York, 9 June 2014, lot 286.An amethyst quartz topped gueridon by Maison Millet offered at Christie's London, 10 September 2013, lot 150 (£49,875), is a testament to this fine material's enduring popularity with renowned makers of the late 19th century.