Magnificent centrepiece in the form of a Meissen porcelain putti carriage with fire-gilt bronze. On a bowl-shaped, leaf-relief carriage with four wheels, two elevated cupids with casually draped capes leading the quadriga. The base is inlaid with sculpted leaves and flowers, with a bouquet of flowers in the base of the chariot. Above it a rising bronze tree with colourfully painted porcelain blossoms from Vincennes. Polychrome painting. Minimally chipped/rest; h. 34 cm. L. 41 cm. Such carriages served as prestigious courtly table decorations. The fire-gilt French bronze mounts were a speciality of the "Marchands merciers" in the 18th century; the Paris-based dealers had the privilege of "combining imported luxury goods and enhancing them by transforming them into ensembles of different materials". Cf. Röbbig, Kabinettstücke, p.59 ff. A splendid bronze mounted porcelain centrepiece as carriage with cupids. Minor chipped/restored. Meissen. Circa 1750-1760.