A Pair of Neoclassical Ormolu-Mounted Cobalt Porcelain Vases

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This pair of vases combines cobalt porcelain with finely cast and chased gilt bronze mounts, a synthesis characteristic of neoclassical … Read more This pair of vases combines cobalt porcelain with finely cast and chased gilt bronze mounts, a synthesis characteristic of neoclassical decorative art. The porcelain bodies are glazed in a deep cobalt blue with a high-gloss finish. Their surfaces are decorated with delicate gilt painting, consisting of flowering branches and trailing vines. The style of decoration recalls French porcelain, particularly techniques developed at the Sèvres manufactory in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Sèvres was noted for its intense ground colors, including cobalt, and for its gilded ornament, often used in conjunction with neoclassical and chinoiserie motifs.

Chinoiserie influence is evident not only in the gilded floral painting but also in the form of the mounts. The handles are shaped as scrolling dragons or serpentine mythological beasts, while the bases rest on four winged, bat-like creatures. These elements reflect the European interpretation of East Asian design, which was highly fashionable throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

The ormolu mounts are cast, chased, and finished with precision, demonstrating the high level of workmanship associated with neoclassical metalwork. They frame the porcelain at the rim, body, and base, uniting functional structure with decorative emphasis. At the top, the rims are encircled with a crown-like border, reinforcing the classical symmetry of the design.

Taken together, the cobalt porcelain bodies with gilt floral painting and the elaborate ormolu mounts exemplify the integration of ceramic and bronze artistry central to neoclassical and revivalist decorative arts. These vases represent not only technical skill in their manufacture but also the broader artistic currents of their time, drawing on both classical antiquity and chinoiserie for inspiration. See less