Lot 286: Georges Émile Henri Servant A fine pair of French Greek Revival marble and bronze urns Paris, circa 1867 Bronze, Marble

the molded rim centered on the front and reverse by a lion head mask flanked by scroll handles terminating in female masks, on a stepped gadrooned foot, the apron cast with the figure of Victory to the front and reverse between scroll supports ending in paw feet.

measurements height 18 in.; width 17 in.; depth 12 1/2 in. alternate measurements 45.7 cm; 43.2 cm; 31.8 cm

Les Merveilles de l'Exposition Universelle de 1867, Vol II, p.165-167.
The Art Journal Catalogue of the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867, Virtue and Co., London 1867.

Georges Émile Henri Servant (1828-c.1890) succeeded his father at his foundry in rue Vielle-du-Temple. He specialized both in the Egyptian revival style and the rapidly growing goût Grec, which became so popular during the 1860s in Paris. He contributed to the Paris Exhibition of 1855, the London Exhibition of 1862 and again at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867, when this model was shown. It was highly praised in the Jury reports by Jules Mesnard, "La forme générale et les détails sont d'un caractère d'un goût parfaits, et portent ce cachet qu'on retrouve aux meilleurs ouvrages que nous ait légués l' Antiquité et notamment Pompéi, qui était romaine, mais dont bein des vases étaient du Grec le plus pur ... Ce vase de Bacchus est tout en bronze."