Ref. 1747/3 et 1076/1

Elkington

Goldsmith (19th Century)
(attributed to)

Pair of Gueridons

England
Circa 1890

Algerian Onyx, Patinated, gilded and silvered copper

Height : 95 cm (37,4 in.) ; Diameter : 46,5 cm (18,3 in.)

Exceptional pair of Neo-Greek–inspired gueridons, crafted in patinated, gilded, and silvered galvanic copper. The Algerian banded onyx tops are framed by a delicate frieze of palmettes. The decorative appeal of these gueridons is further enhanced by magnificent ivy leaves.
The tripodal bases are crowned with majestically detailed lion heads, symbols of power and nobility. The clawed feet flare gracefully, providing both stability and elegance to the structure. The whole is connected by a stretcher adorned with vegetal motifs.

This pair of gueridons stands out not only for the quality of its craftsmanship and its precious materials, but also for the harmony of its decoration, in which the ivy seems to come alive around the onyx, creating an elegant and timeless atmosphere at the crossroads of Neoclassicism and vegetal Romanticism.

Biography

The renowned firm Elkington, founded in Birmingham in 1824 by George Richards Elkington (1800–1865), began by producing silver mounts for perfume bottles. In 1829, the business expanded sufficiently to allow the company to establish itself in London. In the late 1830s, Elkington began experimenting with gilding and silver-plating based on the principles of electro-metallurgy and filed a patent in 1840, the rights to which were later acquired by the Parisian goldsmith Christofle. While Elkington owed its rise to the commercial exploitation of this new technical process, it nevertheless lacked the artists needed to rank among the leading silversmiths in England. The firm therefore employed two of the most skilled and renowned French designers, Albert Willms (1827–1899) and later Léonard Morel-Ladeuil (1820–1888). Through their works, they helped elevate Elkington’s reputation to the highest level during the famous national and international exhibitions.