Pair of Large Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu Vases

18029: Pair of Large Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu Vases
French, 19th Century
Height 151cm, width 45cm, depth 39cm

This impressive pair of large vases is executed in the grand Sèvres tradition, combining richly decorated porcelain with finely cast gilt bronze mounts in the elaborate French decorative style of the 19th century. Works of this type draw inspiration from the celebrated Sèvres manufactory, renowned since the 18th century for its refined porcelain and luxurious courtly aesthetic.
Each vase is of elegant baluster form, topped with a domed cover and pinecone finial, and mounted with superbly modelled ormolu decoration. The handles are cast in gilt bronze with finely detailed classical ornament, while the bases and rims are enriched with elaborate rococo-inspired mounts and scrolling foliage.
The bodies are painted with finely executed Rococo-style figural scenes, depicting idyllic Watteauesque compositions with graceful figures, cherubs, and pastoral landscapes. These romantic scenes are framed within richly gilded cartouches, set against a deep blue ground decorated with intricate gilt patterning.
Particularly striking is the contrast between the vivid porcelain decoration and the opulent ormolu mounts, which together create a sense of theatrical richness and decorative splendour. The reverse of each vase continues the decorative programme with further painted scenes and gilded ornamentation, ensuring visual interest from every angle.
Monumental in scale and highly decorative in execution, this pair represents the height of 19th-century French luxury porcelain production in the Sèvres style, designed to make a powerful statement within a grand interior.

$225,000