An Ormolu and Sèvres-Style Porcelain Guéridon
Possibly English, second half of the 19th century
Gilt bronze (ormolu) and porcelain
Height: 33 in.
This exquisite guéridon, or small side table, is a tour de force of 19th-century craftsmanship in the French style. The turquoise-ground porcelain top, painted with an elegant scène gallante, echoes the refined artistry of Sèvres porcelain. The table’s elaborate ormolu mounts include acanthus scrolls, masks, dolphins, and dragon-form supports—motifs associated with the work of Edward Holmes Baldock (d. 1845), a leading London dealer and royal warrant holder.
Baldock was famed for combining Louis XIV and Louis XVI styles, and for incorporating figural ormolu elements with vibrant porcelain plaques. The playful putti perched at the rim and painted on the porcelain stretcher enhance the piece’s theatrical grandeur. Similar pieces were commissioned for aristocratic homes, including those of the Earl of Lowther and the Duke of Buccleuch.
Provenance: Sold at Christie’s auction The Opulent Eye: 19th Century Furniture, Sculpture, Works of Art, Ceramics & Carpets, held on April 19, 2016, lot 211.
