François-Désiré FROMENT-MEURICE, Silver, Agate and Malachite Tazza Decorated

The Vincennes factory, the forerunner of the Sèvres factory, was founded in 1740 by workers who had transferred from the Chantilly factory. The Vincennes factory became royal in 1752...

This exceptional monumental vase in porcelain of Paris, conceived in the spirit of the Sèvres Manufactory’s productions, is quite characteristic of the Napoleon III style . The long neck of the shape is extremely rare, as well as the gilt bronzes’ richness of ornamentation. Its dimensions and its important bronze mount indicate a ceremonial piece, of supreme luxury, comparable to those the Manufactory exhibited at the World's Fairs. Evoking the aristocratic art of the Ancien Regime in many ways, this vase pays tribute to the refinements of the 18th century, and could have been commissioned to decorate the mansion of a 19th century personality. Indeed, the “Celestial blue” background, embellished with gold arabesques, is characteristic of the porcelains from the Royal Manufactory of Vincennes as early as 1753, which became the Sèvres Manufactory. It is a famous blue, difficult to obtain, which served to decorate the first service delivered to Louis XV. The lively shapes of the bronze base also evoke the art of the ornamentalists in Louis XV’s time, such as Jean-Claude Duplessis or Gouthiere, who were in charge of drawing gilt bronze mounts for China porcelain. The bronze mount of our vase is hence very close to the Duplessis’ ornementations. The two espagnolettes, with sheathed busts of women...

A spectacular early C19th Russian malachite tazza/urn of good scale and elegant form. The circular shallow dish with silvered-bronze mounted rim of sty...

Very large Louis XVI malachite and ormolu-mounted centerpiece ornate gilt bronze lidded dish with floral leaf motif accentuated and raised with figural lion mounts France, 19th centu...