Antique French ormolu mounted Sèvres style porcelain vase

This magnificent vase is crafted from Sèvres style porcelain and ormolu in the Neoclassical style. The vase features an ovoid body, which culminates in a curved cylindrical neck surmounted by a domed cover and is supported below by a waisted porcelain socle above a square ormolu base with canted corners.

The body of the vase is painted in the round with an outdoor scene, with two putti at play on one side and a young maiden in the embrace of a reluctant Cupid on the other. The painterly manner is fine and precise, while the colour palette is subdued, with browns and umbers and pale pastel shades predominating. The body of the vase above and below the painted frieze is adorned with parcel gilt scrollwork and occasional polychrome enamel jewelling. The neck above is similarly adorned, as is the domed cover, which is topped with an ormolu finial comprised of a pinecone surrounded by a floral wreath. The ormolu base is raised on four paw feet, and each side is inset with porcelain panels finished with gilt scrolling and enamel jewelling.

The porcelain is marked with a spurious Sèvres mark, while the painted scene on the body of the vase is signed ‘M. Demonceaux’.