Set of four vase ornaments
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
each: 5 1/2 × 4 in. (14 × 10.2 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
07.225.510.480a–d
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite set of four vase ornaments crafted in 18th-century France, exemplifies the opulent metalwork of the European decorative arts tradition. Each petite piece, measuring just 5½ × 4 inches, is made of gilt bronze—a luxurious medium where a thin layer of gold is applied over bronze via electroplating or mercury gilding techniques. This process created a radiant, durable finish that caught the light in grand interiors, adorning vases, furniture, or candelabra to elevate everyday luxury. The ornaments feature delicate motifs of faces and flowers, common in French Rococo and Neoclassica...