Sèvres soft paste porcelain vase. Bleu nouveau ground with gilded decoration, oval shape, parasol-shaped cover with oak leaf and acorn finial, angular and curved handles hung with oak garlands, all supported by gadrooned cup with angular decoration above, all on circular stem and foot mounted on square base. Painted shaped reserve of an encampment scene to the front with flower spray on the reverse reserve.

This vase is decorated with military encampment scenes which were a popular decorative theme on similarly shaped Sèvres vases during the 1760s. The scene depicted here is a particularly fine example of Jean-Louis Morin’s painting, executed when he was at the height of his powers (active 1754-87), depicting a brawl outside a sutler’s tent.

The possibility that Morin had first-hand knowledge of camp life when his father was an army surgeon may well account for the convincing look to this scene and the apparent authenticity of some of the colours of the uniforms.

Text adapted from French Porcelain for English Palaces, Sèvres from the Royal Collection, London, 2009