A FRENCH 'JAPONISME' GILT, SILVER-PLATED, PATINATED-BRONZE AND ONYX JARDINIERE

The present vase epitomizes the French 'Japonisme' style fashionable during the second half of the 19th century. The gilt and patinated peacocks and base are intended to resemble Japanese metalworks known as mokume. Similar designs incorporating this technique and coupled with Algerian onyx are repeated throughout Cornu's oeuvre, particularly a number of onyx guéridons of either peacock or crane-form, such as one sold at Christie's, London, 14 November 2019, lot 542 (£75,000), and related vases, such as one sold at Christie's, London, 24 May 2018, lot 609 (£60,000) and at Christie's London, 14 November 2019, lot 542 (£75,000).