Pair Of Late 19th Century Neoclassical Spelter Vases - 17¾"

This pair of late 19th-century Neoclassical vases, cast in spelter with a rich bronze finish, is designed at mantel scale and modeled in the form of amphorae. Each vessel rises on a waisted socle and circular foot, the dark bronze-black patination offset by parcel-gilt collars cast with cameo-style female masks in roundels. A Greek key frieze encircles the shoulders, while the bodies are crisply detailed with anthemion and rosette motifs. Tall openwork handles, enriched with acanthus scrolls, climb to broad everted rims, giving the pair a poised and architectural silhouette. The surfaces retain a timeworn patina, with light rubbing to the gilding and gentle wear at the high points, consistent with age and use.

These vases reflect the late 19th-century Neo-Greek taste, when French workshops revisited antique Greek forms and the ornamental vocabulary of the Directoire and Empire periods. Spelter allowed for intricate relief and refined finishes at an accessible scale, often destined for mantel garnitures. The cameo-style medallions evoke ancient intaglios, while the anthemia, rosettes, and volute handles recall Attic amphorae and kraters, aligning the design with the scholarly classicism of the Second Empire and Belle Époque.

Displayed as a pair on a mantel, console, or library shelf, they bring classical balance and a sculptural profile to both traditional and modern interiors. Flank a mirror or clock for a cohesive garniture, or place them on a dining buffet as refined decorative accents. They can be left unadorned, styled with dried stems for a curated, timeless effect, or adapted as bases for lamps to lend both light and a sculptural, classical presence.