A carved ivory flower vase and a pair of ivory statues, Dieppe, second quarter 19th century

the vase wreathed with a garland and filled with fragile ivory flowers and leaves, height 32cm, 12 1/2 in; and a pair of ivory figures of fisherfolk from Le Pollet each standing on a mound of fresh fish and shells, ebonised wood bases, 23cm, 9in

The restoration of the French monarchy following Napoleon's defeat brought an influx of English visitors to the seaside towns of Northern France and particularly to Dieppe, The port, for centuries the main entrance of African ivory to Europe, also became fashionable among the French aristocracy after the Duchesse de Berry chose to take her summer holidays there from 1823 until 1830. Her chief delight was in the English fashion of sea-bathing but she and her companions spent many happy hours visiting and patronising the ateliers of the town's celebrated ivory carvers in the Grande-Rue. Not only did she purchase examples of their work but so grateful were the carvers and town burghers for this stimulus to trade that she was given a number of specially-commissioned presents. These included, in 1824, a carved ivory model of the ship, the Saint-Ferdinand, in which the duchess had sailed  from Naples in 1824; a toilette from Adrien-Nicolas Clémence, carved with her portrait, coat of arms and allegorical symbols in 1829; and two vases, ordered by the town in 1830 to be offered to the duchess and her daughter, which were finally paid for by public subscription as their delicate manufacture took so long to complete.

Associated literature:

Ambroise Milet, Ivoires et ivoiriers de Dieppe, Paris, 1906, pp. 28-35;
Pierre Ickowicz, 'La duchesse de Berry et l'essor de l'artisanat dieppois', Entre Cour et Jardin, Exhibition Catalogue, château de Sceaux, 2007, pp. 69-75.

A number of ivory flowers and leaves have been broken off and accompany the vase; of the figures, the male is in good condition but needs professional cleaning, the lady is broken at the ankles and has already been once repaired.
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