Panel ornament (part of a set)
Unknown Artist
late 17th–early 18th century
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 12 3/4 x 6 5/8 x 1 3/8 in. (32.4 x 16.8 x 3.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1906
Accession Number
07.225.510.41
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gilt bronze panel ornament, crafted in France during the late 17 to early 18th, exemplifies the opulent decorative arts of the Louis XIV and Regency eras. As part of a larger set, it likely adorned furniture, wall paneling, or cabinetry in grand châteaux, featuring delicate motifs of women and flowers evoke the period's fascination with graceful femininity and nature's abundance. Measuring 12¾ x 6⅝ x 1⅜ inches, its compact form allowed for intricate repetition across lavish interiors. Gilt bronze was a hallmark of French luxury metalwork, achieved through skilled casting and me...