Pair of 19th Century "Grand Tour" Antique Polychrome Cast Iron Relief Plaques of Classical Maidens, Continental, Probably French, circa 1850-1875

A handsome and decorative pair of oval cast iron wall plaques, each modelled in high relief with the head of a classical maiden in profile, conceived as mirrored pendants facing one another. The first maiden wears her hair dressed in a braided chignon bound with a fillet; the second with flowing ribbon-bound tresses gathered in loose coils — both heads deriving from antique cameo and sculptural sources in the Neo-Grec taste so fashionable in the third quarter of the nineteenth century.

The plaques retain their original polychrome decoration: naturalistic flesh tones to the faces, bronzed and parcel-gilt hair and ribbons, all reserved against an aubergine-brown ground within moulded gilt borders. The painted surfaces show honest wear and scattered losses commensurate with age, lending an attractively mellow character. The reverses retain the original red oxide priming and old iron hanging eyes, and are indistinctly marked in the casting JP 1 and JP 2 respectively — probably pattern numbers distinguishing the two designs.

The modelling is of notably good quality, with crisp, deeply undercut treatment of the hair and sensitively rendered features. Decorative pairs of this type were produced for interior display in both France and England; the present examples are most probably French.

A genuinely striking pair with great decorative presence — pairs of this quality and in untouched original paint are increasingly hard to find.

Provenance: Probably France, circa 1850-1875.

Material: Cast Iron 

Condition: Good original condition. Wear, chips and losses to the painted surfaces consistent with age; old surface oxidation to the reverses; original hanging eyes present (one bent slightly). Structurally sound.

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