After Claude Ballin I (1615-1678), a French cast iron urn

After Claude Ballin I (1615-1678), a French cast iron urn, cast by A. Durenne, late 19th century, the ovoid and part-lobed body with lattice border and flanked by twin putti handles and raised on a waisted socle and square plinth, the plinth stamped A. DURENNE SOMMEVOIRE, 86cm high, 77cm wide, 48cm deepBidders from the UK and outside of the European Union should be aware that additional import charges may applyClaude Ballin was goldsmith to Louis XIV, and was commissioned by the Sun King to create thirteen pairs of vases for the Parterre du Midi and Parterre du Nord at Versailles. Each of the thirteen pairs shows the influence of Mannerist designs, and some incorporate symbols of Apollo, God of the Sun, with whom Louis XIV famously identified himself. Antoine Durenne's foundry at Sommevoire was renowned for the high quality of its bronze and iron casting (see lot 255 for another work from this foundry). He is also thought by some to have cast the versions of Ballin's vases commissioned by Sir Richard Wallace (from whom the Wallace collection takes its name), for the Chateau de Bagatelle.Condition Report: Marks, knocks, scratches, abrasions consistent with age and use, please note the surface has been re-blacked and is therefore fairly uniform in colour. The interior has some corrosion to the surface but overall the metal appears solid and stable with no clear signs of damage or restoration Please refer to the multiple additional images for visual reference to condition and for reference to the maker's stamp Condition Report Disclaimer