Xavier-Nicolas Goulain
An Empire engraved figural ewer and oval basin by Xavier-Nicolas Goulain
Silver
Height of ewer 26 cm, length of basin 30 cm.
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Literature
Véronique Alemany-Dessaint, "Orfèvrerie Française", 1998, p. 96, illustrating an almost identical ewer with the same figural handle by Goulain in the Musée du Louvre, Paris.
A very rare and beautiful Empire engraved silver figural ewer and oval basin by Xavier-Nicolas Goulain, the ewer with handle formed as a siren with butterfly wings,
Paris, date circa 1830
Fully hallmarked.
Height of ewer 26 cm, length of basin 30 cm.
The figure was a favourite decorative feature during the Restauration period (1815-30) while the palmette banding looks back to earlier Neo-classical design.