Green Ground

It was in the quality of its painting that the Sèvres manufactory was believed to surpass all others. The vase momie rectifié is painted with scenes evoking autumn and the wine harvest. On the front, putti clutching bunches of grapes are playing with a goat munching grapes. The bacchanalian theme is discreetly echoed in the particularly delicate and refined gilding incorporating vine-leaf trails.

On the vase cuvette à masques, the vignette-like representation of a stag being pursued through a forest glade by hounds and mounted huntsmen is framed by elaborate gold floral trails and trellis panels supporting birds. The painter Mutel, who was responsible for the hunting scene, was a former decorator of fans and later specialised in landscape painting at Sèvres. The strong cool colours, in tones of olive green, brown and wispy blue-grey, are typical of his hand.

Vases for growing fresh flowers proved popular at Sèvres. The vase hollandois was designed for growing plants or bulbs. The name may allude to its possible use for Dutch bulbs. The ingenious formula of the two-part vase comprises an upper section containing soil and bulbs, with the stand as a water reservoir from which water percolated through holes pierced in the bottom of the upper vase section.