A porcelain vase, Imperial Porcelain Manfactory, period of Nicholas I (1825-1855)

of baluster form, the central reserve with finely painted portrait in the style of Gerard Ter Borch, unsigned, the deep purple body decorated with scrolling foliate frieze and bands of raised acanthus and palm leaves, flared neck and foot, all flanked by scrolling leaf handles, marked with blue Imperial cypher for Nicholas I and in gilt: dzh. N. 24

The offered vase is an almost identical model to a pair sold at Sotheby's Hanover, in the sale of property from the Royal House of Hanover, 5th-15th October, 2005, lot 2757.  The moulding, particularly of the handles, and the body colour is very similar.