Provenance

Ordered by Louis XV through the French East India Company, c.1738-40 for the château de Versailles. At least one French royal table service in this style also survives.

Acquired by George IV in 1818. Their arrival was recorded by Benjamin Jutsham: ‘A Very Large Case said to contain Porcelaine and Paintings since opened – Contents as follows: Four Indian Porcelaine Jars – painted the Orleans Coat of Arms on Each with Flowers. Mounted with Or Molue – Swan Necks and Handles 25 Inches [63.5 cm] high. Septr 10th 1818. from Dover – NB these Cases now sent from Paris by Mr Lafountain’ (Justsham Recs ii.38). Jutsham may have erroneously identified the handles as swans instead of dolphins. ‘Mr Lafountain’ may be the dealer Pierre-Joseph Lafontaine (or Delafontaine) (1758–1835), who had connections with both the Foggs and the Vulliamys.

The mouth and foot mounts are probably French, second half of the eighteenth century, whereas the dolphins at each side and the drum plinths are almost certainly additions of the early nineteenth century, probably by Benjamin Vulliamy, the King's Clockmaker, around 1818 (as they conform closely to those on the six large ‘cornets’ provided by Vulliamy for RCIN 604), at which time alterations were made.

On 5 January 1820, William Perry submitted a bill for ‘4 6-light Or Moulu branches to design for 4 Orleans Jars superbly gilt and chased’, evidently converting these vases into candelabra, which have since been dismantled.

Recorded in the Music Room Gallery at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, as ‘A Pair of white ground China Jars, richly enamelled in flowers & borders, with the Orlean Arms, embossed Chimera masks, ormolu rims, rich scroll Dolphin handles, broad circular bases, leaf mouldings, and scroll paw feet, two feet five inches [73.6 cm]. (No 37 case)’ (1829B). Recorded at Buckingham Palace, March 1847.