Bowl

Gerd Bøgelund for, Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory

1973-1979

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Oval blue jasper medallion with white relief profile portrait of Jean Le Rond D'Alembert (1717-1783) Known mostly for his advances in mathematics and his association with Denis Diderot in the creation of the famous Encylopedie, but his other works were numerous and influential.
Intricate stand of finely chased silver designed to support a matching basket, resting on four heavy, scrolled feet with shell motifs, the pierced stand curves inward and upward in a dynamic pattern of scrolling foliage and flowers, the lower edge irregular and centered on each of the four sides with a cast and applied mask, the upper edge likewise irregular and ornamented with foliage, with four undecorated edges at which rest the feet of the basket.
Small hollow drum for a lamp or candelabrum of white jasper with dark blue jasper dip and white relief decoration, round and with a hole at each end, the body with a band of oak leaves at the bottom and a band of intersecting circles at the top, the central body with four small relief scenes including, Cupid as Oracle; Endymion on Latmos; Hebe giving sustenance to the Eagle; and Coriolanus (Coriolanus with his wife and mother who entreat him to return to Rome), between a series of dividers comprised of acanthus leaves and anthemion motifs.
Head in profile left. This portrait was used on the Bavarian Kronthaler in 1809 and again for the Rheingold Ducat in 1821.