Large ormolu and Sèvres style porcelain vase

This fine and large porcelain vase is crafted in the manner is Sèvres from ormolu, or gilt bronze, mounted porcelain. The vase is wrought in a distinctive late 19^th Century style, the eclectic nature of which incorporates elements of the Neoclassical and the Rococo.

The vase features a large porcelain cylindrical podium, which supports an integral socle above. The socle in turn supports the tapered body of the vase, which culminates in a waisted neck surmounted by a flat domed cover. The porcelain throughout features a cobalt blue ground extensively parcel gilt with scrolling, foliate forms. The front and reverse of the podium are painted with landscape scenes framed within tooled gilt cartouches, while the front of the body of the vase is painted with a Rococo style genre scene and the reverse with a detailed vignette of a landscape, both framed by similar gilt cartouches.

The shoulders of the vase are set with twin grotesque fawn’s head ormolu masks, while the rim of the vase and the edge of the cover are set with ormolu beading. The cover is surmounted by a porcelain parcel gilt white-ground pinecone finial.

The main painting to the front of the vase is signed ‘La Bergère / des Alpes’ and ‘E. Aubrey’ for the copyist and the original artist. The underside of the podium is marked with a spurious underglaze mark for Sèvres.