Hôtel Lambert, Une Collection Princière, Volume I : Chefs-d’oeuvre
Hôtel Lambert, Une Collection Princière, Volume I : Chefs-d’oeuvre
A pair of Louis XVI gilt-bronze mounted jasper pots-pourris vases, late 18th century
Auction Closed
October 11, 05:25 PM GMT
Estimate
200,000 - 300,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
A pair of Louis XVI gilt-bronze mounted jasper pots-pourris vases, late 18th century
of square tapered shape, with domed lids toped by leafed-berry finials, with rams' heads as handles joined by garlands, on paw feet, with small detachable bronze containers
height 17 3⁄4 in.; width 11 3⁄4in.; depth 6in.; 45 cm; 30 cm; 15 cm.
(2)
____________________________________________
Paire de vases pots-pourris en jaspe rouge de Sicile diaspro rosso di Giuliana et monture de bronze doré d'époque Louis XVI, fin du XVIIIe siècle
height 17 3⁄4 in.; width 11 3⁄4in.; depth 6in.; 45 cm; 30 cm; 15 cm.
(2)
Galerie Maurice Segoura
Private Collection;
acquired from the above in 2001.
____________________________________________
Galerie Maurice Segoura;
Collection privée;
acquis en 2001.
These impressive vases, of unusual quadrangular shape with domed lids and imposing scale, reflect this fascinating moment in the French decorative arts when ancient historic forms emulating Antiquity became the latest fashion - the goût grec. Classical bacchus and satyr masks, ram’s heads and bold garlands became essential motifs of this new vocabulary which these vases fully embrace. The particular acanthus paw feet can be seen on another spectacular transitional mounted example, the pair of pots-pourris with a turquoise porcelain covered shell (ex-collection Clermont d’Amboise, now Musée du Louvre, OA5182), the bronzes of which have been recently attributed to Pierre Gouthière.
The choice of this very fine type of Sicilian red jasper - or diaspro rosso di Giuliana – underlines the richness of these objects, being a rarely found stone in French decorative art. With its vitreous lustre, and quartz areas, it can be slightly translucid assuming an alluring quality that transcends many marbles and hardstones, a more obvious choices for objets montés, making the present lot an exceptionally rare piece.
The celebrated mounted duc d'Aumont perfume-burner with exquisite bronzes also attributed to Pierre Gouthière (Wallace Collection, inv. no. F292) is another rare example of the use of red jasper. The same institution also possesses a pair of red jasper vases (inv. F352-353), with high-quality mounts that too can be compared to those on the present lot.