Beschreibung:

A LARGE FRENCH SILVER CENTREPIECE maker's mark of Debain, Paris, circa 1880 The shaped oblong base raised with gadrooning capped with cast acanthus leaves, the centre rising to an openworked stand of matted strapwork suspending and applied with foliage and with two large grotesque masks on either side, each enhanced with foliage, the centre of the stand flanked by two scantily clad female figures seated and posed in classical positions and cupids holding bows and arrows, the large central stem cast with conforming strapwork and terminating in two applied demi-figures of young boys with musical instruments and supporting four branches cast in the centre with draped tassels and terminating in full-figures of winged cherubs, each with arms rising to support simulated wicker baskets fitted with red-glass liners, the central stem applied on one side with a crest surrounded with strapwork and on the other with a foliate monogram cast with conforming decoration, and with oval basket above 101.5cm. (40in.) high (approx. 29,535gr.)