Cupid Riding a Lion, Modeled after a relief (1831) by Bertel Thorwaldsen, Ilsenburg, cast iron

Cupid Riding a Lion

Modeled after a relief (1831) by Bertel Thorwaldsen, Ilsenburg

Second quarter of the 19th century

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Tall, heavy, urn-shaped vase of black basalt resting on small square base, the round foot with a band of acanthus leaves at edge, the lower body with large applied stylized acanthus leaves and separated from the upper body by a band of bound rods that encircle the body, the upper body on each side with the same relief scene of Prometheus chained to a rock and being attacked by an eagle, who attempts to eat his liver, with two large molded handles of draped female herm figures with outstretched arms, their hands entwined with, or bound by, snakes, the flat shoulder extends to a long neck that is decorated on each side with rams heads, the upper protruding edge is fluted, with pointed cover.
Rectangular dark blue jasper cameo blank
Vase with a bucket form and a tapered base. The exterior is decorated with dimensional bands throughout the form. The rim of the vase has a slightly pronounced lip. The interior is glazed an iron/dark red, which is interrupted at the base where the form begins to taper in.
Toft tray, outside parchment glaze, inside crackled grey and maroon