Chinese lacquer and porcelain inkwell, Paris, circa 1770

A rare inkwell with three white porcelain compartments for ink, sand, and a sponge.

The compartments, beautifully decorated in relief with animals and plum blossoms, imitate the shape of rhinoceros horn libation cups.

They are mounted on a lacquer panel decorated in gold with lakeside landscapes against a vermilion red background.

The entire piece is set in a finely chased and mercury-gilded bronze mount.

It features a neoclassical decorative repertoire of cascading laurel wreaths, symmetrical acanthus leaves, and baluster feet.

The porcelain, made for export to Europe, comes from the Chinese kilns of Dehua in Fujian province, during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (1622-1772).

The panel comes from a Chinese cabinet dating from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1735-1796).

The bronze mount was made by a Parisian bronze worker around 1770.

In excellent condition.

Work of a Parisian merchant, transitional period between Louis XV and Louis XVI, circa 1770-1775.

Dimensions:

Width: 40 cm; Depth: 23 cm

Provenance:

Alberto Bruni Tedeschi Collection; his sale at Sotheby's, London, March 21, 2007, lot 127.

Our opinion:

The inkwell we are presenting features a rare panel of oriental lacquer decorated with gold on a red ground.

This color is rarer and more expensive than the traditional black background; it is obtained by mixing vegetable lacquer with powdered cinnabar.
The scarlet pigment is also known as "Vermilion" in Europe.
This lacquer is a strong marker of Chinese decorative arts and is highly sought after in Europe, as are the white porcelain libation cups used for our inkwell.
The skillful combination of these oriental pieces to create a European decorative object with a neoclassical mount in the latest style is a remarkable achievement.
It is thanks to a prominent Parisian merchant who worked in collaboration with an ornamentalist and a master bronze sculptor in the 1770s.