French Alabaster and Bronze Centerpiece c.1880 - 12¼"

This sculptural centerpiece brings together a wide alabaster bowl and a richly modeled bronze base to create a piece of remarkable presence. The alabaster bowl displays a captivating surface marked by soft ivory and smoky gray tones, enriched by a network of visible lines that read as a combination of natural veining and age-related hairline cracks. These fine fissures are typical of older alabaster vessels and contribute to the bowl’s poetic, timeworn character. The richly cast bronze tri-form base is decorated with Rococo scrolls, expressive masks, and three young tritons whose fishtailed forms add movement and a touch of Baroque drama. The contrast between the pale stone and the patinated bronze tone of the base gives the piece a harmonious tension that feels both classical and delightfully extravagant. This centerpiece makes a captivating focal point on a dining table, where it can hold fruit, seasonal branches, or flowers to enrich its sculptural form. It also sits gracefully on a console, library table, or mantel, where its soft glow can catch the light and draw the eye. When paired with crystal and candlelight, the alabaster bowl radiates a gentle luminosity that brings warmth and atmosphere to evening gatherings. Whether left empty as an objet d’art or incorporated into a vignette, the piece brings elegance, charm, and a refined sense of drama to any interior.