Pair of antique Chinese porcelain Batavian ware and ormolu vases

A truly international antique, this pair of vases was crafted in China and France creating a well-thought out and visually appealing conglomeration of techniques and styles.

The porcelain vases and lids made in the 18th century are mostly coloured in brown ground porcelain known as Batavian ware or cafe au lait ground, a very unusual colour on pieces of this type. The surface decoration includes leaf-shaped white panels filled with famille rose flowers and foliage. Bright red, pink, blue and yellow flowers are hand painted in the white shapes alongside vivid green foliage. The contrast of the dark brown and bright colours inside the shapes makes both the plainer and more ornate parts of the vases work well together.

The ormolu mounts were made in France in the late 19th century. The porcelain lid is mounted with an ornate finial and decorated with a bead and reel motif. The vase handles are in the shape of a ram which are attached to another ormolu detail beneath.

The vases stand on ormolu bases set upon paw feet. Their design includes motifs such as beading.

The unusual colour palette and the inclusion of both Chinese and French features make this pair of vases a wonderful addition to one’s interior design scheme.