Pair of cups for the Ottoman market; France, c. 1870.

Pair of cups for the Ottoman market; France, c. 1870.
Bronze, cloisonné enamel and onyx.
Measurements: 34 x 15 x 12 cm (x2).
This refined pair of ornamental goblets, made in France around 1870 for the Ottoman market, is a remarkable example of the orientalist taste that permeated the European decorative arts during the second half of the 19th century. Executed in gilt bronze, cloisonné enamel and onyx, the pieces reveal the fascination of French workshops with the aesthetic repertoires of the Islamic world and, in particular, with the luxury associated with the Ottoman court. More than simply decorative objects, these goblets embody the intense artistic and commercial dialogue between Europe and the East in a period marked by the expansion of universal exhibitions, collecting and the historicist reinterpretation of the sumptuary arts.
The structure of the pieces combines a globular body with a stylized neck and wide openwork handles with an almost architectural profile, creating an elegant and balanced silhouette. The surface is richly decorated with cloisonné enamels in vivid shades of blue, white and reddish, organized in complex arabesque and geometric motifs inspired by Islamic ornamentation. The use of cloisonné, a technique of oriental origin widely admired in nineteenth-century Europe, provides an extraordinary chromatic effect and an almost jewel-like detail. Added to this is the material contrast with the onyx bases, whose greenish, veined translucency introduces a dimension of exotic luxury much appreciated in the decorative production of the period.