Luigi Valadier (1726–1785)
Two Tazzas, ca. 1780
White marble and gilt bronze
h. 7 5/8 in. (19.5 cm)
Private collection
Mauro Magliani
Winged monopodial lions support two small marble bowls (tazza in Italian). The interior of each tazza is decorated with a Medusa head. The design for these objects was used by Valadier a number of times, including for containers in the first deser of the Bailli de Breteuil. These two were probably made about the same time Valadier was at work on the Madrid deser.