19th century gilt bronze (ormolu) horse relief portrait mounted in a gilded wood shadowbox frame. Ormolu is an 18th-century French decorative technique (derived from or moulu, "ground gold") involving the application of a finely ground high-karat gold mercury amalgam to bronze, which is then fired to burn off the mercury, leaving a durable, brilliant gold finish. Relief in shadowbox measures 13.5" x 13.5". Both the frame and the relief are in very good, age appropriate condition.
