19th Century French Ormolu & Limoges Enamel Table Mirror by F. Bienvue

This is an impressive and highly decorative French gilt bronze and Limoges enamel table mirro, Signed, F.Bienvue, Limoges and circa 1880 in date. The enameled portrait roundel on a floral ground with swag and acanthus leaves, fitted with a bevelled mirror verso, raised on tapered uprights and scrolled acanthus-form feet. Acanthus leaves embellish the feet and legs and a posy of flowers adorns the top of the column at each side. The richly coloured enamel portrait shows the subject with her head turned, almost looking over her shoulder and towards the viewer. It is signed on the left hand side by the master emailleur F. Bienvenu, Limoges. Condition: In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 24 x width 14 x depth 11 Dimensions in inches: Height 9.4 x width 5.5 x depth 4.3 Limoges enamel has been produced at Limoges, in south-western France, over several centuries up to the present. 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 circa 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.