Pair of Chinese export porcelain vases with ormolu mounts

This extremely fine pair of vases are made from porcelain in the Canton region of China, as works to be exported to Europe. The pair of bulbous vases are decorated in a typically Chinese style, with each vase depicting a figurative scene to the front and further panels with vases, objects and flowers around. The blue and white ground covers the rest of the vases with scrolling floral and geometric patterns. Each vase has a similarly decorated matching cover.

Having been made in China in the 19th Century, the porcelain vases were then transported to France, where a bronze specialist has created very finely quality Louis XVI style ormolu bases, neck sections and finials for the covers to perfectly complement the vases and complete them for display. Such vases would then have been sold to Western collectors looking for something beautiful and exotic from another part of the world.