A set of FOUR bronze Versailles vases

The most stunning set of four bronze Versailles garden vases with Sphinxes. These have been reclaimed from a local estate where they have been in the same family for many years. Very good condition for the age. A couple of the urns have very small holes in the bases, I think casting blemishes or for drainage. They have small blemishes here and there, but do not detract from how good these really are. 

The makers of these urns have been variously attributed to the founders: Val d’Osne Antoine Durenne, Ferdinand Barbedienne and Barbazat et Cie. This Specific model (with Sphinxes) can be seen at Sissinghurst Castle Garden with other vase types at Anglesey Abbey, Hertford House (The Wallace collection) and Lanhydrock Cornwall. The body of the vase is ornamented in low relief with a band of foliage decoration below the aperture, the beading being quartered by two female masks and two lion masks motifs, each holding handles in their mouths. These lions are hooded by a shell motif which support a pair Sphinxes. The base of the vase having thumb groves all supported by a plain socle decorated by a laurel band at the neck.