French Chinoiserie Armorial Porcelain Vase and Cover from Samson Paris, 1880s

Details

Description

A french hard-paste porcelain armorial vase and cover by edmé samson, samson, edmé et cie, paris, made between 1880 and … Read more A french hard-paste porcelain armorial vase and cover by edmé samson, samson, edmé et cie, paris, made between 1880 and 1890. It is a substantial three-footed form in the chinoiserie taste, drawing on 18th-century chinese export armorial porcelain while remaining a distinctly french interpretation.

the rounded body is carried by three feet with green enamelled acanthus leaves and gilt scroll terminals. One side is centred by a decorative heraldic composition: a shield, two winged griffins in grisaille, a gilt crest and the motto "sperabo," meaning "i shall hope." this is a decorative armorial design and not an identified family coat of arms.

the white ground is painted with scattered bouquets in pink, purple, iron-red and green. A green diaper-pattern band runs around the shoulder, framed by shaped gilt ornament and iron-red detailing. Gilt and iron-red scalloped borders articulate the neck, the cover and the lower body. The domed cover is finished with a modelled chinese guardian lion, or foo dog, painted in white and green with gilt details.

the underside bears an iron-red pseudo-chinese seal mark associated with samson's chinese-style porcelain. It is a european decorative mark, rather than a chinese reign mark. Founded in paris in 1845, samson became known for its revival porcelain after chinese, french and english historical models.

the scale, three-footed silhouette and sculptural cover make this an effective focal piece for a mantel, console or cabinet.

dimensions
height: 32 cm; diameter: 19 cm; weight: 2,429 g

condition
excellent antique condition, with a small chip to the inner seating rim beneath the cover; otherwise the vase is in excellent condition. Examined under uv light. See less