Porcelain Large Botanical Vases - A Pair

Details

Description

Botanical Grandeur: Mid-19th Century Paris Porcelain Vases

Object: Pair of Baluster Form Vases
Origin: Paris, France
Date: Mid-19th Century (Circa … Read more Botanical Grandeur: Mid-19th Century Paris Porcelain Vases

Object: Pair of Baluster Form Vases
Origin: Paris, France
Date: Mid-19th Century (Circa 1840–1860)
Medium: Hard-paste Porcelain, Polychrome Enamels, and Gilding

Dimensions: Height 17 1/4 inches x 10 inches diameter (43.82 cm x 25.4 cm).
Condition Note: One vase has a small, invisibly repaired section of the neck.

This magnificent pair of Paris Porcelain vases exemplifies the exquisite quality and detailed hand-painting that characterized the French decorative arts during the mid-19th century. Known for their crisp white paste and vibrant enamels, Paris porcelain factories (which often remained unmarked, relying on quality alone) rivaled established royal manufacturers like Sèvres.

Design and Decoration

The vases feature the classic baluster form—a sweeping, elegant shape with a bulbous body tapering to a defined neck and everted rim, perfect for high-style interior display. They are decorated with lavish, all-over botanical bouquets in a dense and naturalistic style. The vibrant color palette, including rich blues, deep reds, and soft pinks, showcases the technical mastery of the painters, who specialized in rendering floral forms.

The painting is organized with impressive fidelity: the front of each vase displays a large, complex floral grouping, while the reverse is reserved for a striking single flower specimen. The rims and base are finished with multiple bands of rich gilding, emphasizing the luxurious nature of the commission. The subtly incised numbers (7 and 8) on the underside are factory marks, likely indicating the size or the specific painters responsible for the meticulous decoration.

Historical Context: The Age of the Grand Interior

In the mid-19 century, Paris was the undisputed capital of luxury goods, setting trends for elaborate home decoration across Europe and America. Vases like these were considered essential elements of a garniture, designed to adorn the mantels and grand sideboards of affluent homes. Their substantial size and high quality mark them as objects intended to convey wealth, taste, and a refined appreciation for the botanical arts, echoing the high-status botanical illustration tradition of the preceding era.

(Ref: VM98253) See less