Pair Neoclassical Blanc de Chine Porcelain Urns, Attributed Nymphenburg, 20th C.

Details

Description

Pair of Neoclassical Blanc de Chine Porcelain Covered Urns, Attributed to Nymphenburg, 20th Century
Four pieces in set: two lids … Read more Pair of Neoclassical Blanc de Chine Porcelain Covered Urns, Attributed to Nymphenburg, 20th Century
Four pieces in set: two lids and two vases
Dimensions: 19" H × 10" W (to handles) × 7" Dia; Base 6" Dia

This imposing pair of neoclassical blanc de chine porcelain urns, attributed to the Nymphenburg manufactory, exhibits the refined sculptural detail and pure, clear white body associated with the celebrated Munich workshop. Rendered in a gleaming monochromatic glaze, the urns reinterpret 18th-century courtly forms with a modern crispness characteristic of Nymphenburg’s 20th-century revival pieces.

A grand and beautifully sculpted pair of Neoclassical blanc de chine porcelain urns, attributed to the storied Nymphenburg manufactory. With stylized animal-head handles, draped swags, architectural molding, and original locking lids, the pair offers the refinement, symmetry, and sculptural purity prized in the European neoclassical revival. Their impressive 19-inch height makes them ideal as mantel garniture or statement pieces in formal interiors.


Design & Stylistic Elements
1. Classical Amphora Form
Each urn is shaped as a high-shouldered amphora rising from a pedestal foot with molded Greek-key and leaf-tip borders, referencing early Neoclassical prototypes from Germany, France, and Austria.

2. Sculptural Animal-Head Handles
The sweeping side handles terminate in stylized animal heads—lion, dragon, or serpent forms typical of courtly German neoclassicism. The elongated necks and subtle modeling give the urns a sculptural dynamism while remaining elegantly restrained in tone-on-tone white.

3. Draped Swag Garlands
Relief-molded swags encircle the shoulders, tied at ringed suspension points. This drapery motif is directly descended from Louis XVI and early Nymphenburg palace decoration, symbolizing festivity and aristocratic refinement.

4. Blanc de Chine Glaze
The glaze is a high-quality, creamy white feldspathic porcelain, fired to a soft sheen—distinctly different from Asian blanc de chine, instead representing the European tradition of pure white sculptural porcelain perfected in Nymphenburg and Meissen.

Construction & Techniques
• Slip-Cast and Hand-Finished Components

The main bodies were likely slip-cast for uniformity, while the handles, swags, and finials show hand-applied detailing and toolwork visible in their subtle variations.

Lid Design: Rotating Locking System These urns feature a traditional locking lid mechanism, used on fine 19th–20th century covered urns:
The collar of the lid sits below the rim of the urn, rather than on top of it.
A slotted interior ring allows the lid to be inserted at an angle.
The lid is then twisted clockwise to lock, securing it within the neck of the vessel. This design prevented lids from falling off in aristocratic interiors and is a hallmark of high-quality European porcelain houses (including Nymphenburg, Fürstenberg, and Vienna).

Attribution to Nymphenburg:
While unmarked, the urns exhibit key Nymphenburg traits:
Crisp, cool white German porcelain
Strong neoclassical vocabulary (animal handles, swags, pedestal base)
Precision of modeling and uniform glaze
Construction techniques consistent with early- to mid-20th-century output
Comparable Nymphenburg blanc de chine classical urns—often larger palace models—appear in the Nymphenburg archives and in international collections. See less