1740
A Pair of Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Meissen Maiblumen Porcelain vases
With baluster-shaped bodies and scrolling ormolu handles of flowers and leaf work joined by an ormolu collar on an asymmetrically cast base and acanthus scroll feet.
Almost certainly part of a garniture and possibly the pair sold by Nicolas Beaujeon's collection, Paris, 25 April 1787 and the following days, lot 346, to go either side of the vase Lot 345 which subsequently sold at Christie's New York, (Magnificent French Furniture from the collection of Monsieur and Madame Riahi). Another garniture of this type is described succinctly in the possession of the duc de Bouillon, in 1771: Une urne et deux buires de porcelaine de Saxe à cartouches, à miniatures, fond bleu moucheté de blanc et montées en bronze doré. Both of these garnitures were undoubtedly the creation of a Marchand-Mercier, it is intriguing to note an entry in the Livre-Journal of Lazare Duvaux, dated 1 September 1750. This records Un pot pourri de Saxe peint de sujets de Watteau, garni en bronze doré d'or moulu, which he sold to Mme la marquise de Pompadour for 120 livres (F.J.B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection, Vol. II, New York, 1966, no.267 A-B, pp.474-75).
Other pairs of ormolu-mounted Maiblumen vases can be seen at The Wallace Collection, The Victoria Albert Museum,the Cleveland Museum, the Huntingdon Collection and finally the Wrightsman collection in New York.
Provenance
Collection of Mr and Madame Seligman Sold Charpentier 4 June 1935 Lot 115.
Measurements
| Dimensions | CM | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Width: | 19 | 7.5 |
| Depth: | 11 | 4.25 |
| Height: | 20 | 8 |