A FRENCH 19TH CENTURY CHINESE ST. ONYX D'ALGERIE, ENAMEL AND ORMOLU JARDINIERE. By H. JOURNET & CIE. CIRCA 1880

This bulbous-bodied onyx jardinière is raised by a Chinese style ormolu base composed of four stylised scrolled legs. The wide body with a short waisted stem is crafted from a cream-colored onyx with light orange veins, decorated with a blue champlevé enamel dragon on one side and green on the other. The vase is flanked by ormolu dragon heads with ring handles in their mouths leading up to the flared neck decorated with a cloud-like ormolu border. Henri Journet became director of the renowned French company the "Société des marbres et onyx d'Algérie" in 1875 taking over from its founder Eugène Cornu, the establishment specialized in high quality artworks mixing enamel, onyx and gilt bronze. Dimensions : 32H x 35W x 30D cm