A French 19th century Renaissance st. Onyx and Ormolu mounted centerpiece/tazza

A handsome and very decorative French 19th century Renaissance st. Onyx and Ormolu mounted centerpiece/tazza. This stunning centerpiece is raised by a circular Ormolu plate below the stepped and mottled Onyx base. Above is the Ormolu socle with an outer... — Read MoreA handsome and very decorative French 19th century Renaissance st. Onyx and Ormolu mounted centerpiece/tazza. This stunning centerpiece is raised by a circular Ormolu plate below the stepped and mottled Onyx base. Above is the Ormolu socle with an outer acanthus leaf decorated band and an inner beaded band. The central tapered fut leads to a handsome top reserve with cabochons and richly chased lion heads. The top support has two elongated Ormolu handles decorated by palmettes, rosettes and having a top fierce open winged dragon. The carved circular mottled Onyx urn has finely pierced side decorative Ormolu mount with a central female bust wearing a crown. The maiden is flanked by scrolls with additional rosettes. The center of the urn is exceptionally decorated by an Ormolu plaque of a classical Greco-Roman relief style scene of a seated woman in draped robes writing with a stylus on a tablet. The bearded man beside her is wearing a toga while leaning his chin on his hand in contemplation. — Read Less