A beautifully patinated pair of cast bronze relief plaques, the subject of these French decorative accessories are two Neoclassical figures in similarly themed armor. The plaques, which were cast in the 1800s, are affixed to wood backing by four screws, one in each corner of the bronze. Both figures were depicted in profile but facing opposite directions.

The figure seen on the left in the main photo is facing to his left. He is clean-shaven with short hair that is barely visible beneath his conch shell-like helmet with a dragon on the visor. A ribbon trails from the base of the helmet, hanging down his back. His scaled cuirass is adorned with a second dragon above his shoulder and a winged and bearded mascaron on the chest. The second figure (on the right in the main photo) is facing towards his right. He is heavily bearded with wavy hair emanating from the back of his helmet. His helmet is very similar but with a few additional motifs, such as more pronounced lobes to the shell and a collection of scrolls in the back. Additionally, there is not a ribbon in the back, but rather a second dragon. The armor does not have a dragon-like the first figure, but it does have an almost identical winged mascaron. Interestingly, both bronzes are in low relief with the exception of the front shoulders, which rise up to give the plaques added depth. They would be fantastic additions to the wall of just about any room.

CONDITION: Very good antique condition, with minor rubs and age separations to wood. Light wear to the bronze, resulting in an uneven, yet fantastic patina. The wood of the plaque framing the bearded man is slightly larger, which explains the variances in the dimensions.