A bronze vase, attributed to Friedrich Bergenfeldt, St Petersburg, circa 1805

of amphora form with a cascading watery rim, flanked by infant tritons supporting shells and tapering to twisted tails, the front centered by a mask of Neptune above a pair of dolphins, the tapered lower section with watery cascades and bullrushes, raised on a rectangular rouge griotte marble base mounted with swans

I. Sychev, Russian Bronze, Moscow, 2003, p. 97, illustrated

Excellent condition. The separate elements very slightly loose but stable. The gilding very slightly rubbed in places.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This vase belongs to a small group made in St. Petersburg between 1801 and 1805, thought to have been made by the most celebrated of Russian bronziers, Friedrich Bergenfeldt, after the 1801 design of Andrei Voronikhin (see A. Kuchumov, Russian Decorative Art in the Collections of the Pavlovsk Palace Museum, 1981, p. 323).

A pair of vases, identical in from to the present example, on unmounted griotte marble bases and with slight variations to the socle mounts, was in the collection of Count Stroganoff before being auctioned by order of the Soviet Government through Rudolf Lepke, Berlin, 12-13 May 1931, lots 137-138. For a pair in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence see M. Chiarini & S. Padovani, Gli Appartamenti Reali di Palazzi Pitti, Florence 1993, p. 229, fig. II.36

For a similar example, please see Sotheby's New York, 24 May 2007, lot 65