- 135
Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 GBP
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Description
- Pair of Vases Renard, circa 1856-1857
- one with stencilled iron red crowned N and DECORE A SÈVRES 57, both incised DL-56-7
- 61.7 x 27 cm. (24 1/4 x 10 1/2 in.) and 61 x 27 cm. (24 x 10 1/2 in.)
enamelled, gilt and platinum decorated porcelain
Provenance
Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie of France, Compiègne
Bernard Dragesco, Paris
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1999
Bernard Dragesco, Paris
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1999
Literature
Brigitte Ducrot, Porcelaines et Terres de Sèvres au Musée national du château de Compiègne, cat., Paris, 1993, p. 228 for relatable flower decoration on Sèvres porcelain
Bernard Chevallier, Les Sèvres de Fontainebleau, pièces entrées de 1804 à 1904, 1996, Paris, 1996, pp. 148-149 for two relatable pairs of vases decorated in this manner and a drawing of a similar design
Roberto Polo ed., The Eye, London, 2011, pp. 165-165, 167, illustrated
Bernard Chevallier, Les Sèvres de Fontainebleau, pièces entrées de 1804 à 1904, 1996, Paris, 1996, pp. 148-149 for two relatable pairs of vases decorated in this manner and a drawing of a similar design
Roberto Polo ed., The Eye, London, 2011, pp. 165-165, 167, illustrated
Condition
The vase in the right of the catalogue illustration:
has areas of re-gilding to the sloped foot, there is a minute crack to the edge of the foot.
The other vase:
there is a clean break along the join of the sloped foot and base of the vase, along this there is spray to the Greek-key band and re-gilding to the top edge of the gilded foot, there is some wear to the gilding on the top rim of the vase.
Otherwise the decoration of both vases is in good condition.
Both vase bases have been weighted.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
This beautiful pair of vases show the exceptional technical abilities that were being achieved at the Sèvres porcelain factory in the mid-19th century. The form inspired by the Chinese yen yen, is described at Sèvres as Vase Renard or Vase potiche Renard, named so after the designer, Emile (1852-1882), or Hubert-Constantin Renard (1847-1892). The six exquisite flower specimens depicted on the vases were probably painted François G. Richard. Richard joined the factory in 1832 and first worked as a gilder before becoming a painter specialising in fruit and flower decoration.
The offered pair of vases appear in the Sèvres manufactory stockroom records on 30 April 1858, priced at 3,400 Francs each, listed as 2 Vases Potiche Renard décor en or et platine Cartels de fleurs genre Chinois (Archives register Vv 6, folio 44. no 34). It is almost certain that this entry relates to the present pair as no other vases with decoration described with platinum and gold decoration appear between 1854-1859. The same vases appear in the factory credit sales register (register Vbb 12, folios 223-224, Septembre 1860):
Livré par ordre de l'Empereur pour le service du Grand Maréchal à la Conservation du Mobilier de la Couronne pour le Palais de Compiègne / Surtout de Table /
No 44-34 2 Vases potiche Renard, décor en or et platine, fleurs dans le genre chinois 3.400- 6.800-
In this list of objects delivered for the table at Compiegne, the Palace register's receipts are mentioned as 'Troi reçus signés de M le Régisseur du Palais de Compiègne.
The Chateau de Compiègne was of great diplomatic importance in the mid-19th century. The recently married Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie de Montijo began to use the chateau as their autumn residence in 1856. It is here that the couple hosted les Séries, the prestigious event in which influential guests would be invited for a short stay during the hunting season. Les Séries was an annual event which continued into the 1860s and hosted numerous European heads of state, including King of the Belgians in 1863, the Prince of Wales, the furture King Edward VII in 1868; but also artists like Meissonier, Delacroix and Winterhalter.
The offered pair of vases appear in the Sèvres manufactory stockroom records on 30 April 1858, priced at 3,400 Francs each, listed as 2 Vases Potiche Renard décor en or et platine Cartels de fleurs genre Chinois (Archives register Vv 6, folio 44. no 34). It is almost certain that this entry relates to the present pair as no other vases with decoration described with platinum and gold decoration appear between 1854-1859. The same vases appear in the factory credit sales register (register Vbb 12, folios 223-224, Septembre 1860):
Livré par ordre de l'Empereur pour le service du Grand Maréchal à la Conservation du Mobilier de la Couronne pour le Palais de Compiègne / Surtout de Table /
No 44-34 2 Vases potiche Renard, décor en or et platine, fleurs dans le genre chinois 3.400- 6.800-
In this list of objects delivered for the table at Compiegne, the Palace register's receipts are mentioned as 'Troi reçus signés de M le Régisseur du Palais de Compiègne.
The Chateau de Compiègne was of great diplomatic importance in the mid-19th century. The recently married Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie de Montijo began to use the chateau as their autumn residence in 1856. It is here that the couple hosted les Séries, the prestigious event in which influential guests would be invited for a short stay during the hunting season. Les Séries was an annual event which continued into the 1860s and hosted numerous European heads of state, including King of the Belgians in 1863, the Prince of Wales, the furture King Edward VII in 1868; but also artists like Meissonier, Delacroix and Winterhalter.