This extraordinary Sèvres vase, dating to 1878, was likely created for display at the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle, showcasing the manufactory's exceptional artistry. A museum-worthy masterpiece, the vase is highly notable for its impressive size, rare purple ground, and finely detailed figurative decoration on the neck.
Standing over one-and-a-half meters tall, the vase is of campagna form, with the body enveloped in a stunning and unusual purple ground—a shade between lilac, mauve, and lavender—rarely found on Sèvres porcelain. This elegant colour is strikingly complemented by intricate gilded embellishments throughout.
The neck of the vase features a continuous painted frieze of remarkable detail, rendered in sepia tones with gilded highlights. The scene portrays two ancient Greek deities: Bacchus, shown on the obverse being drawn in a chariot by nymphs and maenads, and Poseidon, on the reverse, guiding a small boat through the ocean accompanied by nymphs and cherubs. The level of detail and realism in the painting is extraordinary, showcasing artistic skill rarely seen in porcelain of this period.
Twin gilt handles are applied to either side, each formed as a fluted scroll dividing into two columns adorned with leaves and additional fluting. These elegant handles are surrounded by scrolling motifs that dance around them and form a frieze at the neck's upper section. The playful, curving designs, combining black and white grounds with gilt accents, are highly distinctive.
The vase culminates in a flared base decorated with foliate and geometric motifs in the same sophisticated colour palette and rests on a square gilt plinth. Some of the decorative elements are attributed to Jules Diéterle (1811–1889), a leading ceramic artist at Sèvres, who served as the chief artist in 1848 and head of artistic works from 1852 to 1855.
The underside bears the markings ‘DECORE A SEVRES (18)78’, ‘S. 73’, and the potter’s mark ‘CR 72 7 / P. Ro. V. 72.2’, authenticating its origin.
Crafted by one of history’s most renowned porcelain manufacturers, this vase is a truly desirable and prestigious addition to one’s collection.
