Pair 19th Century French Art Nouveau Period Cassolettes by Moreau

Pair 19th Century French Art Nouveau Period Cassolettes by Moreau is a masterpiece of the style, rendered by one of France's most famous family of sculptors!  Although Louis Auguste Moreau (1855-1919) and Hippolyte Francois Moreau (1832-1927) were notable sculptors in their own right, they collaborated on several works of which this is one example.  Depicting two mariners braving rough seas, it has been rendered in spelter and given a lovely multi-hued bronze finish.  Note the earnest expressions on the faces of the seamen, and details such as crashing waves, seaweed and even a gull skirting the wave tops.  Finished on all four sides, the pair was designed to rest on a mantel in front of a mirror, such that admirers could view it from all angles at all times.  Removable tin inserts allow one to keep them clean between flower displays.  Each is set upon a richly veined marble base.
The Art Nouveau style flourished between about 1890 and 1910 throughout Europe and the United States.  Art Nouveau is characterized by its use of a long, sinuous, organic lines and was employed most often in architecture, sculpture, interior design, jewelry and glass design, posters, and illustrations.
Circa 1895
Each measures 13.5H x 5W x 7D