Pair of ormolu, enamel and onyx vases by H. Journet & Cie
By H. Journet & Cie (French, founded 1875)
£15,000
Crafted from fine onyx and decorated with wonderful Chinese style champlevé enamel dragons, these vases are characteristic of the work of Henri Journet & Cie.
These bulbous-bodied vases are set on Chinese style ormolu (gilt bronze) bases, each composed of four stylised, scrolled legs. The vases have been crafted from a cream-coloured onyx, with light orange veins. They feature short waisted stems and wide bodies decorated with champlevé enamel dragons, which are light blue on one side and green on the other. Ormolu dragon heads, with ring handles held in their mouths, are mounted onto the sides of the vase bodies. The vases’ short, waisted necks feature flared rims, decorated with a cloud-like ormolu border.
The undersides of the vases are signed, 'Sté Des Onyx H. Journet & Cie / 24 Bd Italiens'. The vases were crafted by Henri Journet, who became the director of a company called ‘Société des marbres d'onyx d'Algérie’ in 1875, taking over from its late founder, Eugène Cornu. Under the new name, H. Journet & Cie, the firm continued to create high-quality enamelled onyx items with fine ormolu mounts, like this pair of vases.