Rare Pair of Palatial Sevres 1900s Era Sevres Figural Painted Urns

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This palatial pair of attributed Sèvres porcelain vases, dating to the turn of the 20th century, exemplifies the grandeur, artistry, … Read more This palatial pair of attributed Sèvres porcelain vases, dating to the turn of the 20th century, exemplifies the grandeur, artistry, and technical virtuosity for which Sèvres is revered worldwide. Monumental in scale and richly ornamented, each vase features a dramatic cobalt blue ground, lavishly embellished with dense hand-applied gilding in scrolling neoclassical patterns. The bold contrast between the deep blue porcelain and the burnished gold creates an immediate sense of luxury and ceremonial presence.

Each vase is centered with a finely painted figural reserve, depicting elegant neoclassical and pastoral scenes rendered in soft, luminous tones. The figures—nobly dressed riders, attendants, and architectural backdrops—recall 18th-century courtly life and classical idealism, a visual language long favored by Sèvres painters. These painted panels are framed by elaborate gilt cartouches, executed with remarkable precision and depth, emphasizing the painterly quality and narrative richness of the scenes.

The vases are further enhanced by sculptural gilt bronze mounts, including boldly modeled handles and substantial pedestal bases, lending architectural strength and a distinctly palatial character. Such mounts were typical of the finest Sèvres productions intended for royal residences, embassies, and grand European interiors. Designed as statement pieces, vases of this caliber were often displayed as focal points in salons, galleries, or flanking mantelpieces and doorways.

The Legacy of Sèvres

Manufacture nationale de Sèvres is the most celebrated porcelain manufactory in France and one of the most important in the world. Founded in the mid-18th century under royal patronage and later supported by Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour, Sèvres became synonymous with technical innovation, artistic excellence, and state-sponsored luxury. The manufactory employed the finest painters, chemists, sculptors, and gilders, developing proprietary porcelain formulas, pigments, and glazes that set international standards.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sèvres continued to produce exceptional works that blended historic French styles with contemporary refinement, supplying prestigious clients and world exhibitions. Pieces attributed to Sèvres from this period reflect not only extraordinary craftsmanship but also centuries of accumulated artistic knowledge.

This magnificent pair of attributed Sèvres vases embodies the ceremonial elegance, decorative power, and cultural prestige that define Sèvres porcelain. Rare, visually commanding, and steeped in history, they represent an exceptional acquisition for collectors of museum-quality European decorative arts and interiors of true distinction.


Dimensions: 34.75 inches high x 16.5 inches wide x 14 inches deep. See less