TWO SÈVRES PORCELAIN BLEU NOUVEAU VASES AND COVERS, VASE FERRÉ (2ÈME GRANDEUR) |

typically formed, the raised garlanded panels painted with encampment scenes and rings of flowers, later gilt-metal pineapple finials to the covers, both with blue interlaced L marks, one containing indistinct date letter, and painter's mark M for Jean-Louis Morin (active as a painter from 1754-87); the other with B mark for Jean-Pierre Boulanger (active as a gilder and painter from 1754-85) and incised Bono beneath panel for the repareur Etienne-Henry Bono (active 1754-81), one vase cracked round upper part and restored, one broken at junction foot and stem, restored, minor losses

Each vase is approximately 16 cm. wide and 36 cm. high. Both covers have replacement gilt-metal finials which aref a reasonable quality and probably date to the early 19th century. One covers is slightly smaller than the other, the larger is 13 cm. diameter, the smaller 12 cm. diameter, the larger covers fits the vase with the male and female figures, the smaller cover the vase with the two soldiers and hound. Both covers have minute chipping to the underside edge of the rim and the rims of the flanges but are otherwise in good order. The vase painted by Morin with date letter `o` has a luting line to the interior of the vase around the shoulder, this has some old patches of overpainting to the interior.and shows to the exterior in the form of faint glaze cracks to the upper parts of the raised panels with rings of flowers. Minute chip to the interior of the rim. The two chain links to the lower part either side of the main cartouche are restored, both appear well restored but could benefit from being refreshed. There are several stress cracks to the inteior of the lower part of the vase. The body has been bolted to the foot and has old overpainting to a plaster fill on the exterior, two holes have been drilled to the interior of the stem visible to the underside. The gilt bands of the foot have been worn and the giding re-touched in places and slight re-touching to the firing cracks to the surface to the foot. The moulded wreath on the foot is slightly worn. The painting of the main cartouche of a soldier and maid is very good and a subject seen on several cups and vases in Wallace and the British Royal collections. The still-life of vegetables in the foreground is unusual. The cartouche has a small glaze blemish disguised by the leafy branch above the female figure. The panels is flanked by rings of pink roses and blue cornflowers to the left, pink roses and mixed flowers to the right and convulvulous and berried myrtle to the reverse. The vase with decorator's mark for Boulanger, the luting line to the interior of the vase is less pronounced on this example. The chain link to the left of the main panel is chipped off and missing and would need to be replaced. The foot has been attached to the lower part of the body and filled with plaster around the join, there is a single drill hold to the underside of the foot/stem. The lower rims of the raised cartouches have scattered shallow chipping, some of which shows the white porcelain below the gilding. The foot has slight wear to the gilding on the raised points of the wreath. There are some glaze blemished to the surface and slight dark speckling to the white sections of the cartouches and the interior of the vase, I would describe it as slight mis-firing. The painting of two soldiers and a hound to the main cartouch is competent rather than good, the figures are on a slightly larger scale than it's comapnion, it lacks depth compared to the other vase and the perspective on the large pink drum to the right is not as accurate as it might be. The main panels is flanked by cartouches with rings of flowers, pink rises and mixed cornflowers to the left, pink roses and garden flowers to the right, the reverse with blue convulvulous and berried myrtle. The vases are by different hands and the covers are slightly mismatched but the painting of the floral rings shows a similarity in design. There are several small areas of damage but generally these are in good order and of good appearence and work as a pair though there are some inconsistencies. They have been recorded in the same collection since the 19th century and it is likely that they have been together, perhaps as part of a larger display of ornamental vases in the 18th century. This form of vase is difficult to identify from factory records at this date though the catalogues of the similar examples in the Wallace collection and the Royal collection attempt to identify simlar examples in 18th century documents.
"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."

LITERATURE
Anon, Ombersley Court Contents Inventory, circa 1825-36, p.40; 'Small Drawing Room [later The Rose Boudoir] / A pair of vases of old Sevres china, mazarine blue ground, gilt medallions and painted in figures and flowers';
M. H. Blutley, Ombersley Court, Inventories of Heirlooms, 1863, p.127; [probably] 'Ornamental China in Gallery (over Hall) / One pair of Sevres vases the centre divisons perforated'