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1 of 253523 objects
Vase à panneaux or vase à perles 1780?
Soft-paste porcelain, beau bleu ground, gilded decoration and gilt bronze | 56 x 26.7 x 21.1 cm (including mounts) | RCIN 2292
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Sèvres soft paste porcelain vase and cover. Beau bleu ground and gilded decoration with rim encircled by white beads, angular handles, splayed foot on (later) square base, cover gadrooned and with gilt knop. Front reserve with polychrome painting of a quayside scene, naval trophies on the reverse.
The front reserve of the vase depicts a conventional marine scene: an officer wearing a tricorn hat directs sailors shifting cargo on the quayside. The scene may have been painted by Jean-Baptiste-Etienne Genest (active 1752-88). Like his contemporary Jean-Louis Morin (active 1754-87), Genest was recognised as a specialist in this genre.
The trophy on the back, possibly painted by Charles Buteux l’aîné père, incorporates complementary marine elements, including Neptune’s trident, a shield emblazoned with a dolphin, a furled sail and a trumpet.
Of particular note is the richly gilded decoration, skilfully enhanced with delicate tooling. This is a distinguishing feature of the work of Etienne-Henry Le Guay père, who was acknowledged as one of the finest gilders at the manufactory in the eighteenth century.
The vase is a version of the fifth and final variant design of the vases à panneaux, which is known to date from 1779. One characteristic of this variant is that it is fitted with a square porcelain plinth.
Text adapted from French Porcelain for English Palaces, Sèvres from the Royal Collection, London, 2009Provenance
Possibly part of a garniture (with a pair of vases ferrés (cat. no. 34)) bought in Paris by François Benois for George IV from Quintin Craufurd’s widow in 1820. The account in the name of ‘Madame Cruford’ is endorsed 15 May 1820. The entry reads: ‘3 vazes de Sevres fond Bleu, medaillons de marines et trophée’.
Recorded in 1826 in the Gilt Column Room, Carlton House: ‘No.43. A large beautiful blue and gold Seve Porcelain Vase and Cover; the top and handles beaded, painted in front after Vernet, in marine Figures and Landscape, and at the back, a Naval Trophy; square plinth with gold threads; 19 In. high’. -
Creator(s)
(porcelain manufacturer)(metalworker)(porcelain painter)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Soft-paste porcelain, beau bleu ground, gilded decoration and gilt bronze
Measurements
56 x 26.7 x 21.1 cm (including mounts)
49.2 x 26.7 x 21.1 cm (parts .a and .b together)
Category
Object type(s)
Place of Production
Sèvres [France]