Ormolu mounted porcelain vase garniture by Sèvres and Picard

This garniture is comprised of a central jardinière and a pair of flanking vases. The jardinière features a wide porcelain body which stands on an ormolu (gilt bronze) splayed foot. The foot is fluted, its top encircled by stiff leaves and beading, and its bottom by a wreath. This is placed on a square ormolu plinth which is decorated with grape-form finials, hung draperies and square rosettes, and set on four ormolu beaded toupie feet.

Above, the jardinière’s bulbous porcelain body features a continuous painting of Bacchic putti playing together in a landscape setting. This painting is edged with jewelled enamel and parcel gilt decoration, set against a ‘bleu celeste’ (turquoise) ground. The jardinière’s body is topped by an ormolu waisted, guilloche-patterned neck. This is fitted with two geometric ormolu handles which terminate in cherub heads.

The pair of vases are similar to the jardinière in their design. They feature ovoid porcelain bodies which stand on ormolu feet. The feet are encircled by stiff leaves, wreaths and beading, and are set on ormolu plinths on toupie feet. The vases’ porcelain bodies are decorated with continuous paintings of putti playing sports in outdoor settings. These are framed within gilt and jewelled borders, against ‘bleu celeste’ backgrounds. The vases are fitted with ormolu handles with cherub head terminals. They are topped by ormolu mouths and pointed gilt and jewelled ‘bleu celeste’ porcelain lids, crowned by ormolu grape finials.

'Ab: Schilt / à Sevres’ is signed onto the porcelain for the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory. The ormolu mounts have been attributed to the bronze manufacturer and gilder, Henri Picard, who is known to have collaborated with the Sèvres factory to produce similar models.

Jardinière: Height 37cm, width 34cm, depth 27cm 
Vases: Height 47cm, width 22cm, depth 16cm