Mirror-trumeau Empire Style "with Swans". 20th Century Work.

Empire Style Mirror-Trumeau "Aux Cygnes". 20th century work. Séant Trumeau mirror of fireplace in an architectural form in white lacquered painted wood with almond green moldings and sculpted ornamental motifs painted gold. Resting on a base with foliated windings, it presents on each of its side uprights fluted pilasters topped with Corinthian capitals. Decorated in its upper part with fleurons and acanthus palmettes, the trumeau has a rectangular mirror tempered by a semicircular arch embellished with a key with a water leaf motif. Enhanced with a molding traversed by corbels, a pediment with a slightly overflowing cornice crowns the whole. On this one unfolds a harmonious ornamental composition: two Swans - animal figures linked to the deities of Greo-Roman mythology Apollo or Venus -, half-open wings, with tails extended in acanthus leaves with palmettes, with long curved necks frame a basket of wickerwork filled with stylized pomegranates - symbol of Fertility. Centered by a rosette daisy, a thyrse with bases completes the decoration of this overmantel largely inspired in its formal aspect as in its ornamental repertoire of productions in vogue under the First Empire for this type of furnishing object. With an architectural simplicity fortunately balanced by the presence of ornamental elements characteristic of the Empire Style - which often uses "ambiguous" symbols * -, this Mirror placed on a fireplace, surmounting a chest of drawers, a console, .. will embellish any interior with a "classic" character. *For the Curious, we noted in "The Eagle and the Butterfly. Symbols of power under Napoleon, 1800-1815" (Exhibition Catalog, Paris, Museum of Decorative Arts, April-October 2008), in the chapter devoted to the "Ambiguous Swan", this instructive passage: "If the swan is above all known as the animal chosen by Zeus to seduce Leda, it is also the attribute of Apollo (..) sometimes , it replaces the traditional doves pulling the chariot of Venus. Representations of the swan as an ornamental motif (..) very frequent in Roman art (..) imposed itself as a major figure from the Consulate "and remained "omnipresent in decorative art throughout the Empire"; "An elegant and ambiguous animal", he was "also a symbol of feminine seduction". Also, it is present in many types of furniture (Athenian washbasins, wall sconces, clocks, armrests of armchairs, .." (p.228). Empire Style work from the second half of the 20th century. Around 1950. Materials: Molded and carved wood gilded and cream lacquered with almond green trim; tan.