19th Century Gilt Bronze & Samson Porcelain Centrepiece

This is a fine antique French Samson porcelain centrepiece, Circa 1860 in date. The octagonal shaped centrepiece features a colourful relief body decorated with flower sprays and a Chinese dragon. It is raised on a heavy set pierced and scrolled ormolu Rococo leaf work base with a matching rim. The base bears a blue painted maker's mark for Samson.. This item is of superb quality, is incredibly rare, and will instantly enhance any room. Condition: In really excellent original condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 18 x width 26 x depth 26 Dimensions in inches: Height 7 inches x width 10 inches x depth 10 inches 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 around 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.