Sèvres style porcelain and ormolu mounted vase with pedestal

This impressive Sèvres style porcelain vase is mounted with ornate ormolu (gilt bronze) elements. The ormolu base of the vase is highly detailed in construction: square in shape with chamfered corners, the base is mounted with numerous ormolu forms, including medallions, fabric drapes, acanthus leaves, and tassels. The porcelain socle of the vase, which stands on this ormolu base, culminates in an ormolu foliate mount that supports the bottom of the vase’s body.

The body of the vase is decorated with two large cartouches, each of which is framed by scrolling gilt borders. The cartouche on the front of the vase contains a painted scene: three figures and several horses and dogs interact with one another within an idyllic landscape. The artist has employed typically Rococo colours, particularly evident in the pastel pinks and blues that predominate. The picture is indistinctly signed lower left. The cartouche on the reverse of the body is painted with a landscape of similar style to the scene on the front. A river winds through an idealised countryside setting, with a mill by its banks and a bridge over its course. Trees frame the composition, and the colour palette is distinctly Rococo.

The porcelain ground of the socle, body, neck, and lid of the vase is of a beautiful deep blue. The front of the neck of the vase, as with the socle, is decorated with scrolling foliate gilt forms. The lid, which tops the neck, is similarly decorated, and is surmounted by an ormolu finial composed of two courting birds upon their nest of naturalistically cast leaves and twigs. From the circular ormolu foliate mount that defines the socle from the body spring two ormolu handles. Each elaborate handle is formed from an acanthus leaf wrapped column, upon which is supported a lyre. The arms of each lyre contort into acanthus leaves, which scroll ornately around the lyres and over the shoulders of the vase. Behind each lyre, seated on the neck of the vase, is an ormolu putto, with a intricately cast ormolu chain held in his hands.

The vase stands on a beautifully crafted ormolu stand, which, dating from the 21st century, is designed after a 19th Century wooden original. The stand, raised on four bun feet, is supported by four scrolling cabriole legs with beaded edges. The top of the stand, upon which the base of the vase sits, is formed of lapis lazuli, which complements the vase's blue porcelain ground.

The vase is marked underglaze with interlaced 'L's.

Height: 201cm
Vase: Height 135cm, width 55cm, depth 45cm
Pedestal: Height 66cm, width 42cm, depth 42cm