A late 19th century Onyx, bronze and enamel cup by Eugène Cornu (1827- 1899)

A gilt bronze and polychrome enamels onyx marble cup
Signed E.CORNU PARIS on the shaft, Napoleon III period
The neck of the vase is surmounted by a large gilt bronze band decorated with a very fine orientalist decoration in "champlevé" enamels with red, blue and white dominants.
Lotus flowers in "cashmere" frames alternate with a suite of three flowering vases under a Moorish arcature. A multitude of foliage scrolls stand out from the background. This decoration is underlined in the lower part by a frieze of florets standing out on a red. Two handles in chased and gilded bronze are applied and repeat this plant repertoire made of scrolls and clasps. The gilded pedestal is also embellished with a very elegant enamelled decoration of free hanging flowers or framed in a cartouche in the form of drops of a great freshness of polychromy.
The whole bowl rests on a small circular marble base.
In perfect condition
W: 29 cm D: 18,5 cm H: 35 cm
Weight: 7,2 kg
*Louis-François-Eugène CORNU (1827-1899) Paris
The very great quality of the decoration allied to the abundant use of the onyx marble of Algeria makes it possible to allot this realization to Louis-François-Eugène Cornu, at the same time great draughtsman, creator and manufacturer of objects of decorative art under the reign of Napoleon III. With Ferdinand Barbedienne or Bernard-Alfred Meyer was considered one of the best manufacturers of luxury objects in Paris during the Second Empire.