A delightful 'compotier' French cake stand or raised serving dish, often also used for fruit, from a Paris antique market.
 
It depicts a chateau or palace along with a pair of cherubs sitting on elaborate foliage, typical of the motifs fashionable in France during the Empire era in the second half of the 19th century.
 
The compote has been very well used over its long life, central to the genteel family's dining. It is delightfully crazed and stained, perfect imperfection of you are a lover of patina like I am.
 
This gorgeous piece stands 5" tall and 9" in diameter.