19th Century French Ormolu Tazza

This is an impressive and highly decorative French ormolu tazza, mid-19th century in date. It features twin handles to either side and the centre is inset with a beautiful Limoges enamel plaque depicting a lady in Renaissance clothing. It is raised on four scrolling supports on a Carrara marble base with a central ormolu rosette and an ormolu underside. Condition: In reallyexcellent condition having been beautifully cleaned in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 25 x width 34 x depth 28 Dimensions in inches: Height 9.8 x width 13.4 x depth 11.0 Limoges enamel has been produced at Limoges, in south-western France, over several centuries up to the present. Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object. After circa 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt..