Fusione in sabbia - Centrepiece - chiseled - Bronze - Napoleon III Cake Stand

Refined decorative center table stand (cup on a pedestal) in bronze, finely worked in relief and chased, dating to the second half of the 19th century (Napoleon III era / Eclecticism).

The object stands out for its extraordinary decorative scheme, characterized by two magnificent bas-relief zones: The central dish: presents a refined allegory of music and the arts with four musical putti (cherubs) playing the lyre, the flute, and the cittern, surrounded by Bacchic symbols (bunches of grapes and a pitcher) and enclosed by a garland of interwoven foliage. The flaring base is adorned with rich decoration in the Renaissance grotesque style, with winged mythological creatures (Pegasi/hippocampi), vegetal scroll motifs and a finely chased classical mask in relief. The central stem features a precisely turned baluster form. At the bottom, the interior of the foot shows the typical rough surface of sand-cast metal from the period, finished by mechanical turning, and the original iron pin with a contemporaneous slotted screw.

Conditions of the object and historical evidence:
The stand is structurally solid, stable and perfectly intact. An original manufacturing detail is noted: on the dish there is a visible era-specific 'cold shut' from the casting, present on both the back and the front of the smooth band. The defect has historically been stabilized and compacted in the foundry by the chasing artisan during production. Beautiful natural dark patina with slight signs of aging.