Antique French Porcelain & Brass Mounted Pair of Jardinière Urns

A magnificent pair of large antique French porcelain jardinière urns dating to circa 1880, lavishly decorated with hand-painted panels and elaborate brass mounts. Their impressive scale, unusual decoration and highly architectural form make them exceptional examples of late 19th-century French decorative art. Each substantial jardinière has a wide flared body with a dramatic black ground, richly hand painted with colourful flowers, scrolling foliage and decorative motifs. Large pastoral panels depicting dogs within landscape settings form the focal point of each piece, surrounded by intricate polychrome floral decoration. The interiors are equally attractive, with a contrasting pale ground decorated with delicate hand-painted flowers and foliage beneath the rim, demonstrating the attention to detail throughout. The porcelain bodies are extensively mounted with ornate brass, including substantial decorative rims, elaborate scrolling foliate side handles and further applied mounts. Each jardinière is raised upon a shaped pedestal decorated with hand-painted flowers and a distinctive mauve Greek-key border, terminating in a square porcelain plinth supported by magnificent scrolling brass feet. Originally designed as grand jardinières for displaying plants, their sculptural form also allows them to be used purely as decorative urns. At 75cm high, they have considerable presence and would make spectacular statement pieces positioned either side of a doorway, fireplace or console, or within a large entrance hall, drawing room, orangery or conservatory. A rare and exceptionally decorative pair, combining richly painted porcelain with the opulence of late Victorian-period French brass-mounted furnishings. Date: Circa 1880 Origin: France, attributed Available for UK and international shipping.