Pair of French ormolu and Sevres style porcelain vases

These beautiful painted porcelain vases have been mounted on a gilded bronze triform stand and topped with a lid of the same material, following the Sevres style of France.

On each, the main body of the vase is composed of porcelain (an expensive and highly sought-after material in the 19th Century) which has been painted light blue and cream.The central motif on both vases depicts a woman, with her head slightly bent, revealing the feminine curve of her neck and breast. She is surrounded by an elegant arrangement of orange, pink and purple flowers.

The porcelain vase is covered by an ornamental pierced ormolu lid with a porcelain top, itself surmounted by a gilded bronze pineapple finial. Pineapples have long been celebrated as status symbols, since they were very expensive to import or indeed grow at home. This pineapple is mirrored by another, which extends down from the main porcelain body of the vase.

Each elegant ormolu triform stand can be held by two handles, cast as loops of foliage. The ormolu support then leads down to three stylised lion feet, which stand on a beautifully-ornamented base. The entire composition is then raised up by fine toupie feet.

Each vase is well proportioned and beautifully crafted. The pair complement one another in their ornament and overall form.