Pair of neoclassical sphinxes; late 19th century – early 20th century.

Pair of neoclassical sphinxes; late 19th century – early 20th century.
Patinated iron.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Measurements: 96 x 106 x 40 cm (x2).
Pair of monumental female sphinxes. Depicted as elegant 19th-century ladies, these figures combine the body of a sphinx with refined feminine features, creating an image that unites mythological tradition with the sophistication and aristocratic taste of 19th-century decorative arts.Both figures are reclining on their respective pedestals, with their feline bodies rendered in a naturalistic style and their front paws extended. The female torso is carefully sculpted, while the faces are framed by elaborate hairstyles and crowned with tall, classically inspired headdresses, emphasizing their ceremonial character.
The choice of the sphinx is no accident. Since antiquity, this hybrid creature has symbolized mystery, vigilance, and power, and during the nineteenth century it was revived with particular intensity by architects and artists associated with Neoclassicism, Eclecticism, and a taste for antiquity. In this pair, that iconography is transformed through an eminently decorative sensibility, reminiscent of the world of palaces, gardens, and grand bourgeois residences.