Le Louvre French Antiques Porcelain

This pair of Paris porcelain neoclassical style vases from the early 1800s have stunning details and rich coloration. Old Paris porcelain, or Vieux Paris, is the term given to the elaborate hard-paste porcelain products created in Paris from the mid-1700s through the late 1800s. Vieux Paris is a generic term, as there were more than 30 factories that produced porcelain during this period. Sometimes these factories would sell “blank”, unpainted pieces to outside artisans, so it is quite possible to see identically shaped pieces with different paint styles. Because of this, a fair majority of Vieux Paris is unattributed – meaning there are typically no production marks. The trumpet necks of these vases are a lustrous gilded porcelain, flanked on two sides by bright white stylized sphinx busts with acanthus leaf headpieces. The slightly obovate bodies are painted in a matte azure color. This color, known as “Bleu de France”, has been a staple of the heraldry of the French monarchy since the 12th century. The body of each vase is where most of the minute details can be found. Situated on either side and slightly below the base of the sphinxes are gilt cherubs. Each vase has its own unique set of cherubs, depicting different activities. One vase has a cherub with butterfly on a string, while the one on the opposite side is holding a pair of trumpets. The other vase has a cherub flying with a wreath, while the one on the opposite side is holding a pair of torches. Even though the figures are very small in stature, you can still see the details of their faces. Beneath the cherubs are large bisque...

This bright Capodimonte porcelain group of four putti and a goat symbolizes abundance and the spirit of life. Capodimonte was originally an 18th century Italian porcelain...