Pair Old Paris Porcelain Chinoiserie Fashion Rose Water Bottles by Jacob Petite

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Pair Old Paris Porcelain Chinoiserie Fashion Rose Water Bottles Attributed to Jacob Petit, France, Circa 1840–1860

A rare and highly … Read more Pair Old Paris Porcelain Chinoiserie Fashion Rose Water Bottles Attributed to Jacob Petit, France, Circa 1840–1860

A rare and highly decorative pair of Old Paris porcelain figural rose water bottles, attributed to the circle of Jacob Petit and produced during the height of the French fascination with Chinoiserie in the mid-19th century. Each figure stands 11.5 inches high and conceals an original stopper within the head, allowing the sculptures to function as elegant vessels for rose water, perfume, or other scented preparations.

Conceived during the height of the Chinoiserie revival, the figures represent France's romanticized vision of Chinese court fashion. Their elaborate robes, brilliant enamels, fanciful titles, and theatrical accessories reveal more about the tastes of fashionable Paris than historical China, making them superb examples of 19th-century French decorative imagination.

The male figure is modeled as an exoticized Chinese court official dressed in flowing robes richly embellished with emerald green scrollwork, cobalt-blue geometric ornament, pink roses, and extensive gilding. In his hand he carries a gilt-inscribed scroll reading "Ministre de Rose de Chine" ("Minister of the Rose of China"), a fanciful title reflecting the romantic and imaginative interpretation of the East so popular in French decorative arts of the period. His costume combines elements of imagined Mandarin court dress with Rococo-inspired ornament and vibrant enamel decoration.

His companion is portrayed as an elegant court lady wearing a long flowing robe decorated with magenta scrollwork, green floral blossoms, and delicate gilt highlights. She carries a ceremonial fan and wears a long necklace or chain, symbols traditionally associated with refinement, beauty, and social status. The floral decoration suggests she may represent the allegorical "Rose of China" itself, creating a narrative relationship with the male figure.

Particularly desirable is the survival of both concealed stoppers, a feature frequently lost over time. The pair also retains gilt inscriptions to the bases and scroll, adding further intrigue and individuality.

Figural old Paris scent bottles are uncommon; matching allegorical male and female examples of this size, quality, and decorative complexity are considerably rarer. Combining sculpture, functionality, fashion, and the enduring appeal of 19th-century French Chinoiserie, these figures represent a charming and highly collectible example of luxury porcelain produced for the fashionable Parisian market.

Dimensions: Each is 11.5 inches high.
Origin: France, Circa 1840–1860.
Attribution: Circle of Jacob Petit / Old Paris Porcelain. See less