Provenance

Bought as a garniture by François Benois for George IV in Paris from Madame Craufurd (account endorsed 15 May 1820), following the death in November 1819 of her husband, the expatriate, man of letters, collector and francophile, Quintin Craufurd. The entry reads: ‘3 vases de Sevres Bleu turquoise à medaillons Celui du meileu sujet Turc, Les deux autres Sujets pastorales’. Recorded late in August 1820 by Benjamin Jutsham in the Carlton House receipts’ ledger as part of a consignment despatched from Weymouth by Mr Philips of Bond Street; it represented the ‘whole of Mr Benois Purchase of the Goods bought by him at Paris contained in 6 Cases opened May 13th 1820’. The entry reads: ‘3 Seve Porcelaine Vases Sky Blue Ground & Gold ornaments, with Compartments of Figures & Landscapes, the Centre Vase is mounted with an Or Molu Plynth. The Figures in Turkish Dress, a Female Playing a Spinnet, & on the reverse side Flowers. … The Centre Vase is 19I high …’. Recorded in 1826, as part of a garniture with cat. no. 71 in the Anti Room to the Dining Room, Basement Floor, Carlton House: ‘No.87. A magnificient [sic] sky blue Centre Vase and Cover of Seve Porcelain, the Cover, handles and top rim beaded; gold festoons at the sides, the front compartment painted in Figures, two having musical instruments, the back in flowers rich ormolu plinths with inverted corners – 20 In. high’.