Art Nouveau Gilt Bronze Vide-Poche Tray – Female & Satyr, Model No. 1657, c.1900

An evocative Art Nouveau gilt bronze tray, cast in relief with a dramatic allegorical scene: a flowing-haired woman in profile gazes across at a horned satyr, his hand raised in temptation. The imagery captures the era’s fascination with myth, beauty, and moral symbolism, expressed through the sinuous lines and expressive detail characteristic of c.1900 decorative art.

Likely produced as a vide-poche or calling card tray, this versatile piece would have held coins, keys, or small desk items while also serving as a conversation piece. The reverse bears the number 1657, almost certainly a catalog or model reference rather than a date, and now features an added hanging bracket, allowing the tray to be displayed as a wall plaque. Comparable examples are attributed to Austrian and German foundries working in the Jugendstil tradition, where mythological bronzes of this type were especially popular.

Both practical and symbolic, the tray embodies the Art Nouveau spirit of merging utility with allegory, elevating a simple household object into a statement of style and meaning.

Condition:

Good overall with wear consistent with age. Surface scratches, scattered finish losses, and patina present. A bracket has been later affixed to the reverse for wall mounting. Warm golden tones remain, enhancing the depth of relief.

Dimensions:

4 x 7 5/8 inches
Weight: 8.4 oz

Please Note: Soup for Scale in Photo