Items Similar to Important Empire Period Paris Porcelain & Ormolu-Mounted Casket/Box/Jewelry Box
- Want more images or videos?Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11
Important Empire Period Paris Porcelain & Ormolu-Mounted Casket/Box/Jewelry Box
$88,000

About
An Important and very rare Empire period Paris porcelain ormolu-mounted Empire rectangular shaped two-handled casket decorated and assembled by Feuillet or Sèvres Porcelain manufactures. The cover inset with a simulated hard stone cameo of Ceres in profile to the right within a circular ormolu frame, flanked by scrolling green acanthus issuing pink anthemion and blue flower heads, the side-panels with garlands of flowers on a gilt-ground, the casket with an embossed hand chiseled ormolu frame enclosing four flared rectangular pale-lilac-ground panels with similar decoration centered by trophies, mounted with ormolu double-scroll foliage handles cast with a winged lion mask, supported on four paw feet, the interior fitted with original silk lining and chenille trimming,
circa 1815-1820
This Paris porcelain ormolu-mounted casket encapsulates the lavish refinements of the Empire period. It was most probably given to a high-ranking lady as a gift on the occasion of her marriage, or perhaps after the birth of a child. The cover is inset with a Fine simulated hardstone cameo of Ceres, the Greek goddess of agriculture who was emblematic of fertility and plenty, making this casket a fitting and symbolic gift. The casket is closely related to a smaller workbox with similar ormolu mounts and cameo decoration now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The V&A example is inscribed ‘Feuillet Rue de la paix 18’ to the underside of the cover and has a contemporary Feuillet paper label to the underside. Although the present casket is considerably larger in size and finer in quality, its similarity to the V&A workbox suggests that it was assembled by Feuillet.
Jean-Pierre Feuillet (1777-1840) was a leading Parisian decorator and retailer who set up a shop in Paris on the rue de la Paix under the protection of the prince de Condé. Feuillet gained a reputation as one of the best porcelain decorators in the city and he used porcelain blanks from a variety of Parisian manufacturers including Nast and Darte Frères, supplying many aristocratic collectors. The porcelain panels used in the present casket would probably have been supplied as blanks to Feuillet, and subsequently decorated and mounted in ormolu by Feuillet, as is the case with the example in the V&A. The V&A workbox was bequeathed by Mrs. T.R.P. Hole in memory of Bettine, Lady Abingdon, and was once part of a large collection of French Empire decorative arts owned by Charles Stuart, Lord Stuart de Rothesay (1779–1845) who was the British Ambassador in France during the Napoleonic wars. It seems likely that the present casket was also intended for a similarly important collector.
The painting of trompe l’oeil cameos in imitation of hardstone cameos became a popular but technically challenging decorative technique used by many of the leading Continental porcelain factories in the late 18th and early 19th century. The technique was first used at the Sèvres manufactory in the late 18th century, but it was only truly mastered under the directorship of Alexandre Brongniart in the early 19th century. Brongniart’s training as a mineralogist could well have influenced the refinement of the technique at Sèvres. Cameos had a particular appeal to Napoleon, and he ordered vases and services painted with them, including two services called Service ‘Icongraphique’ from Sèvres painted by the artist Degault with figures from antiquity. Cameos were well adapted for Imperial propaganda, lending an antique authenticity but also alluding to the cultured fashion for classicism. Designs for such cameos were taken from Ennino-Quirino Visconti’s, Iconographie grecque, published by order of Napoleon in Paris in 1808. Visconti (1751-1818) was an Italian antiquarian and art historian, papal Prefect of Antiquities, and an expert on ancient Roman sculpture. Copies of his three volume work were given out as gifts and disseminated through Sèvres and other Parisian factories and it seems very likely that the artist who painted the Ceres cameo seen here drew inspiration from Visconti’s publication.
Because of the technical difficulties presented by painting cameos, Feuillet most probably turned to one of the best independent decorators to supply the central cameo panel for this casket. The two most celebrated decorators specialising in this technique were Jean-Marie Degault and Louis-Bertin Parant. Of the two, Parant was the leading artist in cameo decoration; although he was employed by Sèvres to work on important commissions he was not part of the regular workforce, preferring to work independently in his own studio in Paris, decorating both Sèvres and other porcelains. Brongniart was continually frustrated at the slow progress of Parant, who was a perfectionist and had gone to great lengths to find Authentic Models for his cameo portraits. Parant’s slow progress was to benefit other accomplished artists, including Jean-Marie Degault who gained further commissions from Sèvres as a result. It is not known whether Degault worked exclusively for Sèvres, or whether he also worked as an independent decorator, but the pair of Sèvres vases ‘fuseau’ decorated by Degault and now in the Twinight Collection, New York, show a similar subtle depth of detail to each of the Emperor’s laurel crowns and the style of the calligraphy of the inscription is also close to that seen on the cameo on the present casket.
Details
- CreatorJean-Pierre Feuillet (Maker)
- DimensionsHeight: 6.75 in. (17.15 cm)Width: 15.75 in. (40.01 cm)Depth: 10.5 in. (26.67 cm)
- StyleEmpire (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques
- Place of Origin
- Period
- Date of Manufacture1815
- ConditionWear consistent with age and use.
- Seller LocationNew York, NY
- Reference Number1stDibs: f919518070211269241fs
Shipping & Returns
- ShippingRates vary by destination and complexity.Ships From: New York, NY
- Return Policy
A return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
1stDibs Buyer Protection Guaranteed
If your item arrives not as described, we’ll work with you and the seller to make it right. Learn more
About the SellerLocated in New York, NY
4.8 / 5
Gold Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are highly rated and consistently exceed customer expectations.
Established in 1820
1stDibs seller since 2011
60 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
More From This Seller
- Located in New York, NYPair of antique French Empire red porcelain and ormolu-mounted lamps, attributed to Sèvres. The porcelain bases ...Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Table Lamps
MaterialsOrmolu
$14,900 Sale Price / set20% Off - Located in New York, NYA fine pair of early Paris porcelain Empire Period reticulated compotes/fruit baskets each having a different pa...Category
Antique 19th Century French First Empire Porcelain
MaterialsOrmolu
- By Manufacture Nationale de SèvresLocated in New York, NYA beautiful 19th century gilt bronze mounted sevres jewel box and cover with multi-panel scenes. Of cartouche sh...Category
Antique 1880s French Belle Époque Decorative Boxes
MaterialsPorcelain, Porcelain
- By Porcelaine de Paris, Richard WestallLocated in New York, NYAn incredible and rare pair of French Paris Porcelain First-Empire Period Winged Sphynx-form double- handled por...Category
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Vases
MaterialsPorcelain, Porcelain
- By Manufacture Nationale de SèvresLocated in New York, NYAn unusual antique French iridescent Sèvres Porcelain and ormolu-mounted oval shaped centerpiece, the light jade...Category
Antique 1880s French Louis XV Porcelain
MaterialsBronze
- By Manufacture Nationale de SèvresLocated in New York, NYA very unusual and quite large pair of Empire period Sèvres Porcelain pale Celeste blue and faux porphyry ground...Category
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Vases
MaterialsPorcelain, Porcelain
You May Also Like
Ormolu-Mounted Jewelry Casket
By Tahan Paris
Located in Miami, FL
Very finely detailed ormolu bronze box frame with five Pietra Dura Stone marquetry panels.
Interior has original silk lining. Not marked and attributed to Pietra Dura.
Category
Antique 1870s Italian Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Stone, Ormolu
Paul Milet Sèvres Porcelain Hinged Dresser Box with Ormolu Mounts
By PM Sèvres 1
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This French porcelain box was designed by Paul Jean Milet, son of Felix Optatus Milet. Felix Optataus Milet began his career as a modeler for Sèvres in 1862 and opened his own cerami...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Gilt Paris Porcelain Table Snuff Box or Round Casket by Bloch & Bourdois
By Bloch & Bourdois
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A compelling round 19th century Paris porcelain box by Bloch and Bourdois.
With raised gold decoration, hand-painted vignettes and floral sprays, and a gilt bronze mount.
Base ...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Rococo Revival Decorative Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
Sevres Gilded Dark Cobalt Blue Porcelain Casket Box
By Sèvres
Located in Guaynabo, PR
A porcelain hinged casket with hand painted romantic couple scene signed Sevres. The casket box lid has gold decorations relief of acanthus leaves scrolls, a garland of pearls and fo...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Decorative Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
Samson Paris Signed Porcelain Trinket Box
By Edmé Samson
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a gorgeous French heraldic early 20th century Samson Paris signed porcelain trinket box probably by Edme Samson.
Marked on the base with the letters “B” and “W” inside ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Baroque Porcelain
Materials
Ormolu
Wonderful French Faceted Etched Crystal Bronze Ormolu Mounted Casket Jewelry Box
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French faceted etched cut crystal casket with engraved scroll bronze ormolu mountings with deco keyhole.
Measures: 3.25" D x 5.25" L x 6" H.
Category
Vintage 1940s French Belle Époque Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$1,800 Sale Price
20% Off
Wonderful French Faceted Cut Crystal Bronze Ormolu-Mounted Casket Jewelry Box
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French faceted cut crystal casket with engraved scroll bronze ormolu mountings with wreath draped keyhole.
Measures: 5.25" L x 5.25" H x 4" D.
Category
Vintage 1930s French Belle Époque Decorative Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$2,150 Sale Price
24% Off
French Sevres Porcelain Hand Painted Jewelry Casket Ormolu Mounts Signed Gilbert
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very fine quality French Sevres hand decorated signed ladies jewlery casket or dresser box of outstanding museum quality and quite generous proportions. The rectangular outline wit...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
The 1stDibs Promise
Learn MoreExpertly Vetted Sellers
Confidence at Checkout
Price-Match Guarantee
Exceptional Support
Buyer Protection
Insured Global Delivery