Offered by Anne Besnard
This large pair of porcelain vases is painted, on a dark beige ground, with large polychrome floral bouquets. They are arranged within generous reserves bordered by a wide ribbon in matte and burnished gold, adorned with a frieze of small roundels. The ground of the vases, in a deep midnight-blue tone, is enhanced by a rich gilt decoration composed of a flowing wave motif punctuated with fleurons extending up to the neck. The latter, ornamented with a fleuron, features on either side two small garlands of leaves rising toward the slightly flared rim. These ornaments of exceptional quality recall the prestigious production of the Sèvres manufactory.
The vases rest on very elegant gilt-bronze bases bordered with two rows of pearls, and on the body, between the reserves, are applied two small gilt-bronze mounts depicting a twig supporting several ivy leaves.
The reverse of the vases bears no mark. Their high quality has led us to associate them with certain Parisian manufactories. We successively considered Dagoty, Rousseau, Honoré, Dihl or others, as many workshops were able to compete with the Sèvres Manufactory—especially since the artists who decorated porcelains frequently moved from one establishment to another according to their engagements. Although the delicately painted floral bouquets inspired the greatest admiration, their composition on a coloured ground that appears unusual to us has not allowed a definitive attribution to any single manufactory.
The condition of these vases is perfect: there are no restorations, and the gilding of the bronzes is original.
Parisian manufactory.
Late Restoration period, circa 1840–1850.
Height: 52 cm.
