180 - CHRISTOFLE, after Jean-Hugues Taraval and Louis-Simon Boizot

CHRISTOFLE, after Jean-Hugues Taraval and Louis-Simon Boizot “The Cymbals” A large, primarily table-top piece in silver-plated bronze, adorned with a central group depicting a standing Bacchante playing cymbals, with a faun seated at her feet blowing a horn. The scene rests on an oval-shaped base of silver-plated copper, with four spindle-shaped legs, flanked by two applied motifs of acanthus leaves in scrollwork. The borders are adorned with garlands of flowers, friezes of vine leaves, and blind cartouches. Signed on the base Circa 1860. Silversmith’s hallmarks H. 57 cm, W. 78 cm, D. 60 cm. Wear to the silver plating; applied acanthus motif needs to be reattached. This group reproduces one of the side motifs from the “surtout” designed by Jean-Hugues Taraval and modeled in 1773 by Louis-Simon Boizot, director of the sculpture workshop at the Sèvres Manufactory. It is part of the “Bacchus Overcoat” in bisque, commissioned in 1772 by Louis XV’s Menus-Plaisirs. Divided into three parts, the ensemble consisted of a central piece, “The Triumph of Bacchus,” flanked by two side groups, “The Bacchante with Cymbals” and “The Nymph with the Tambourine.”