With initial G.S. Georges Emile Henri Servant (1828-1880)- Pair Of 'Warwick Vases' - Napoleon III - Bronze, ormolu & Marble - 19th century

An exceptional, rare and important pair of urns by the renowned French bronze foundry: Georges Emile Henri Servant (1828-1880) . Each piece consists of black marble pedestals with two bronze and ormolu 'bun feet' to the back and two bronze and ormolu pierced feet to the front with beeding and foliage decoration. On each side of the geometrical black marble bases are two bronze and ormolu mounts of the Roman God Mercury in mask form. The pedestals are surmounted by exquisitely cast bronze urns which are based upon the famous ancient Roman 'Warwick Vase'. Each bronze vase is of typical 'Campana' form with entwined vine handles and are applied with four Bacchanalian heads to the front and back; each head is of extremely fine quality and depict clear and realistic features of various Roman Gods. Beneath the rim of the urns, garlands of vine leaves and bunches of grapes decorate the circumference of the bowls. To the top, beading surrounds the outer rim whilst the bowl in lined with an ormolu finish. The vases each rest on finely chiselled ormolu stands. This pair is a very rare example by The Servant foundry; each piece is stamped to the ormolu stands ' G S and star and a bee' (please see the photographs) . Approximate dimensions: 20 cm wide x 18 cm deep x 31. 5 cm high Extremely Heavy: Total combined weight: 15 Kg Condition: Overall in excellent condition for their age; minor signs of use; for instance, some small chips to the marble. The inside of the urns have a rich patina which is a testament to their age. *Georges Emile Henri Servant Foundry* Georges Emile Henri Servant (1828-1890) took over his fathers foundry and workshop at 137, rue Vieille-du-Temple, Paris, in 1855. He specialised in the production of Egyptian and Greek revival styles. He exhibited at many of the international exhibitions of the period including the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition and at London in 1862, where he was praised for the high quality of his work. His success was confirmed at the 1867 Paris Universal Exhibition where he was awarded a gold medal for his neo-Greek and Egyptian models. In 1874 he was awarded France s highest honour the Ordre national de la Legion d Honneur.