Large French 19th century ormolu-mounted Sèvres-style vases

Large French 19th century ormolu-mounted Sèvres-style vases
France, Late 19th Century
Height 104cm, width 40cm, depth 32cm
 
This grand pair of 19th century French ormolu-mounted Sèvres-style porcelain vases represents an exceptional fusion of sculptural bronze work and richly decorated porcelain. Standing over a metre tall, they exemplify the opulence and artistry cultivated in France during the period, when elaborate porcelain vessels were commissioned for palaces, salons, and diplomatic gifts.
 
The vases are ornamented with finely chased gilt-bronze mounts—scrolling acanthus handles, palmette rims, and fluted supports—resting on columnar pedestals swathed in garlands and set upon shaped plinths. Their deep cobalt grounds provide a dramatic backdrop for the elaborate gilt decoration, which includes trelliswork, caillouté patterns, and delicate jewelling that catches the light across the surface.
 
Each vase features a beautifully painted oval cartouche depicting a mythological tableau. One portrays Mercury descending toward Alceme with the infant Hercules, animated by swirling drapery and radiant cloud effects. The other shows Europa seated on the bull, surrounded by attendants and airborne putti in a scene filled with colour and movement. The soft modelling of the figures and the luminous palette reflect the finest French traditions of historical painting translated into porcelain.
 
The reverse of each vase bears the crowned monogram of Louis-Philippe I. Although the covers are later, they complement the overall design and maintain the vases’ imposing silhouette.
 
Elegant, dramatic, and richly worked, this pair offers a rare opportunity to acquire high-quality Sèvres-style vases whose technical execution and decorative refinement place them among the most impressive examples of their type.