Bowl on stand
Design attributed to Louis-Constant Sévin French
Manufactory Maison Ferdinand Barbedienne French
Not on view
With its sculptural outline and the use of lotus leaf and palmette decoration, this coupe derived inspiration from ancient Egyptian art, while its scrolling patterns are based on Near Eastern designs. It was made by the firm of Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810–1892), the leading French manufacturer of artistic bronzes during the second half of the nineteenth century. Under the direction of Louis-Constant Sévin, a sculpteur-ornamentaliste who joined the foundry in 1855, the firm expanded into the production of vases, candelabra (2008.267.1,2), clocks, and other luxurious furnishings (2017.666). Executed in a wide range of styles, these pieces were frequently decorated with colorful cloisonné enameling which appealed to the contemporary fashion for rich patterns and saturated colors in the domestic interiors.
