French Serves-Style Porcelain & Gilt Bronze Cassolettes Urns

Details

Description

Louis XV Splendor: Pair of "Sèvres-Style" Porcelain & Gilt Bronze Cassolettes,
Circa 1880–1900.

A magnificent pair of late 19th-century French … Read more Louis XV Splendor: Pair of "Sèvres-Style" Porcelain & Gilt Bronze Cassolettes,
Circa 1880–1900.

A magnificent pair of late 19th-century French "Sèvres-style" porcelain urns, mounted in finely cast gilt bronze (ormolu). Designed in the opulent Louis XV taste, these vessels function as cassolettes—convertible garnitures that can serve as decorative urns or be transformed into candlesticks.

The porcelain bodies are richly decorated against a lustrous cobalt blue ground (bleu de roi). The necks and feet feature dynamic swirl fluting in alternating bands of white and blue. The central ovoid bodies are hand-painted with high-quality reserves:

Obverse: Romantic scenes of putti and classical maidens in the style of François Boucher.

Reverse: Serene atmospheric landscapes.

These pictorial panels are framed by elaborate, two-tone (matte and burnished) raised gilding and accented with applied "jeweling" in turquoise and white enamel, mimicking precious stones.

The Mounts: The gilt bronze mounts are exceptional, featuring powerful satyr-head handles that flank the shoulders. The most ingenious feature is the reversible cover: the pinecone finial can be flipped over to reveal a candle nozzle, instantly converting the decorative urn into a functional candlestick.

Condition: Excellent antique condition. The porcelain is free of chips or cracks. The gilding is bright with minimal rubbing. The reversible mechanism functions smoothly.

Measurements:
Height: 12 1/4 inches (31.1 cm)
Width: 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm)
Depth: 5 inches (12.7 cm)

Historical Context:

In the late 19th century, the demand for luxury furnishings in the "Ancien Régime" style was insatiable. Paris workshops produced these high-quality garnitures to adorn the mantels of the wealthy bourgeoisie and aristocracy. The "jeweled" technique was a specialty of the Sèvres factory in the 18th century, revived here with great skill to add texture and richness to the surface.

(Ref: NY10173-ncmr) See less