Pair of Sevres porcelain jardinieres by Develly and Picard

The porcelain jardinieres are finely painted with depictions of various hunting scenes and four castles including the Château de Chambord. They are signed and dated 'C. Develly Sèvres 1855', stamped to the feet 'H. Picard'. They are the work of Jean-Charles Develly (1783-1862) was one of the most prolific and creative artists at the Sèvres factory and a very gifted painter. His masterpieces include a coffer made by Sèvres in 1838; the sides set with plaques painted with scenes commemorating the marriage of the duc d'Orléans to the princesse Hélène de Meklembourg-Schwerin (Château de Fontainebleau inv. F931C) and the Service des arts industriels; a dessert service with scenes conceived and painted by Develly showing the progress of technology through its application to different tasks.

The ormolu mounts were designed by French maker Henri Picard, who was recorded to be working in Paris at 6 rue Jarente in 1831 and moved to 10 rue de la Perle in 1839. He was celebrated for casting and gilding decorative objects to a very high quality. He worked for the firm Defreville and collaborated with contemporary designers such as Charles Perrault and Grault, supplying Emperor Napoleon III with decorative objects, several of which are still in the State Apartment of the Louvre museum, Paris.