Vase ornament
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
Length: 4 5/8 in. (11.7 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
07.225.510.458
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Vase Ornament*, crafted in France during the 18th, exemplifies the opulent metalwork of the Rococo era. Made of gilt bronze—a luxurious alloy of copper and tin coated with a thin layer of gold—this small-scale piece measures just 4 5/8 inches (11.7 cm) in length, perfect for adorning furniture, porcelain vases, or architectural elements in grand interiors. Gilt bronze was a hallmark of French decorative arts, prized for its shimmering finish achieved through fire-gilding techniques, which fused gold mercury amalgam to the bronze surface for enduring brilliance. In the lavish w...