Featured 2 Beautiful Vases - Metal - I HAVE NO IDEA :p

Hi everybody,

I'm having some questions about these 2 vases.
Well, I ONLY have questions.. there nothing I know about them.

It's a beautiful pair of metal vases on a marble base, with cameo's.

Dimensions:
-Height: 39 cm/ 15,35 inch.
-Diameter: 22 cm/ 8,66 inch.
-Weight: 4 KG.

I'd like to know their:
-Age
-Origin
-Possible maker would be a plus.
-Material: Metal? Bronze? Spelter?
-Cameo's: Who are they?

Any help is welcome!

Thank you very much!
R. Antonis

 

They look to be bronze,Id guess circa 1870s-80s or so,but Im no expert. I think the faces are just decorative, not any specific figure.They are very nice indeed.

 

If it's indeed bronze, then what would make the color differences...
Or is that just polish or something?

 

Medusa is sometimes depicted with a winged face. Don't know about the bearded face, but Romans would put wings on just about anything.

 

I thought, based on nothing, (maybe just the quality) that they would be French..
Could anyone confirm that? Or are they Greek?

 

On the non bearded face, the nose is silver-y. Is that the color of the base metal, or is there some other kind of discoloration happening there? If the base metal is silver color - then you're probably looking at spelter, not bronze.

 

I'm affraid this is the base metal. See pictures.

 

I don't think Cameo is the correct term for these, but I can't think at the moment what it should be.

Lovely

 

Of course they're still beautiful, but

Then maybe it would be just "portrait vases"?
By the way.. cameo's, are that only the shell ones (+ the fakes) then?

 

Greek Revival?

 

Wonder if the one with wings is supposed to be Mercury?

 

I honestly had to google that, and I don't really understand what you mean.
Do you just mean that they are greek style?

 

Yes Greek style, but linked to the 19th century Historic Revival movement. There was Etruscan Revival, Egyptian Revival, Gothic Revival, etc. etc.
I would call it Roman, rather than Greek.

A cameo would be in a cartouche, and preferably of different material. Portrait would be a portrait of actual people, not Gods, etc. Can't think of the term for these either.

 

You might try "bas relief" as a descriptor. Base metal with applied color patination.

 

And could anybody tell me what the APPROX. value of a pair of spelter vases like these would be?

 

Have you checked if there is a small signature on the base rim?

 

Yes I have checked that and they're not signed

 

I like them-original condition, great art & craftsmanship too. Find ballpark sale price by searching eBay sold items because asking or starting prices are worthless. If you decide to sell let me know when/where. This is the second item I've liked here this week and I usually go many weeks without liking anything here. Nice vases!

 

I suspect they may be clock garnitures and originally accompanied an ornate , likely French, mantel clock.

 

I have tried to send you a personal message, but I'm not sure if I did it the right way though.