a superb quality antique French ormolu mounted porcelain urn, dating to the mid 1800s. The body of the piece is made in an amphora form, rich cobalt blue with fantastic gold gilt detailing and vignettes on either side of colorful, realistically painted flowers. The quality of the gilding and the painting is remarkable, with some of the gold decoration done in a raised, textured style and even some of the detail of the flowers done in raised paint for an especially lifelike appearance. The handles are gilt bronze, excellently cast in a foliate design with hand chased texturing and detailing for the prominent acanthus leaves where the handles meet the body and the fine bellflower design along the handles themselves. This piece stands about 15 3/4 inches tall at the highest point and measures about 10 1/4 inches across the handles.