Near pair of gilt bronze and marble mounted mahogany pedestals after Riesener

These beautiful pedestals are based on a design by the acclaimed French craftsman, Jean-Henri Riesener (1734-1806). Riesener was the official cabinetmaker to King Louis XVI, and was a particular favourite of Marie-Antoinette. These pedestals are fashioned in the Neoclassical (or ‘Louis XVI’) style of the French court in the 18th-Century. They are truly exquisite revival pieces, which will add beauty to any interior, classic or contemporary.

The mahogany pedestals feature tall rectangular bodies, which taper towards their bases. They are topped by white marble slabs, providing a flat surface on which to place a fine piece of sculpture or decorative art. The fronts and sides of the pedestals feature parquetry work, which is further ornamented by gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts. Gilt bronze Apollo sunburst motifs decorate the pedestals’ upper bodies, with laurel leaf branches, and, on the sides, flower wreaths within frames. On the front of the pedestals’ lower bodies, there are panels of applied gilt bronze ornament, including cornucopias, flower vases, scrolling acanthus leaves, laurel branches, swags, trumpets and lyres. These are set within gilt bronze frames, flanked by scrolled foliate gilt bronze brackets.

Each pedestal stands on four, gilt bronze paw feet, which are set on a mahogany shaped rectangular base. The bases are decorated with gilt bronze bands, rose wreaths and rosettes. Each base is raised up on four gilt bronze foliate toupie feet.

One pedestal- Height 149cm, width 53cm, depth 35cm
Second pedestal- Height 148cm, width 53cm, depth 35cm