A large gilt-bronze mounted Chinese blue powder porcelain covered vase, the porcelain first half of the 18th century, the mounts probably German, circa 1740-1745, marked with the crowned C

with foliates and flowers, the handles with wings, the top of the cover with coral and shell ; (slightly restored)

Boisgirard, Paris, 8 October 2004, lot 26

Literature references:
- S. M. Benett and C. Sargentson, French art of the 18th century at the Huntington, New Haven/London, 2008, p. 139
- K. Smentek, Rococo Exotic : French Mounted Porcelains and the Allure of the East, New York, 2007, p. 8, fig. 1 ; p. 11, fig. 4 and 5 ; p. 40
- R. Wannenes, Les bronzes ornementaux et les objets montés, de Louis XIV à Napoléon III, Milan, 2004, p. 140
- T. Cell, The Frick collection, an illustrated catalogue, Furniture and gilt bronzes, New York, t. VI, 1992, pp. 302-308 and fig. 15.8.41

The illustration is slightly too orange (for the gilding). It is an impressive piece showing the creativity of the bronzier in the early 1740's. THE PORCELAIN: The cover with 5 vertical cracks around the piece + minor chips to the edges of the cracks. It will benefit a small restoration. The body : overall condition is fine, please note a very thin hairline crack only visible from the inside which is probably a firing crack. It has no porcelain bottom but a brass circular piece. The blue powder porcelain colour is fine with various intensity of deep and light blue. The porcelain originally with a gilded decoration on the surface now extensively missing. THE MOUNTS: As said it shows a rare example of Rocaille virtuosity. The overall design could be from a German Rococo influence but the chasing and the C crown mark fight for a French origin. The mounts are extremely elaborate in design with a combination of pierced areas and various scrolls. The ornament belongs to the very naturalistic Rocaille repertory with an amazing top composed of shells, pearls and branches of coral. The collar, the handles and the bases show a powerful and strong design made with various Rococo ornaments. The chasing is very elaborate and precisely handled which give to the piece its strong Rocaille identity. There are several and expected cast fault. The gilding is mercury gilding with expected wear in places. The mounts have been slightly cleaned but they have kept their natural oxidation stains. Very attractive piece of Chinese porcelain mounted with mid 18th century gilt-bronze.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In the 1740s, trade between China and Europe flourished, notably concerning the importation of porcelains: monochromatic porcelains, such as the one with a dark blue ground, were much sought after by decorative art dealers, to satisfy their clientele in perpetual quest for novelty. The intense blue color of this porcelain makes it possible to date it from the first half of the 18th century, perhaps at the end of the Kangxi period (1662-1723), the Yongzheng period (1723-1735), or the beginning of the Qianlong period (1736-1795).

The dealers could then enhance these porcelains with gilt and chiseled bronze mounts, made by the best artisans, according to varied themes following the trend for Rococo's exoticism and fantasy: our object presents decor partially pierced with wide foliaged scrollwork on the plinth, extending onto the object's body to form the handles and terminate in small wings. This asymmetrical decoration combines with an ornamentation inviting one to travel: the knops, shaped with a cluster of shells and coral branches, evoke the seabed here. Beyond a great sense of refinement, this thematic choice attests to the interest taken during the 18th century for nature and its curiosities, notably by the development of conchology.

This rare, but very characteristic knop is found in particular on a pair of mounted blue vases at New York's Frick Collection, probably from the Gaillard de Gagny sale on 29 March 1762, lot 41, later entered in the Oppenheim, Duveen, and Frick collections (inv. 15.8.41 and .42), on a vase from the Huntington Collection given to California's Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco (inv. 1927.167ab), on a vase from the Werhner Collection sold at Christie's London on 9 June 1994 (lot 34), and a pair of celadon pots-pourris vases auctioned by Sotheby's Paris on 9 April 2008 from the former collection of Jacques Balsan (lot 98).

(consult non-exhaustive list in K. Smentek, op cit. Appendix p. 43).

An anonymous watercolor drawing from the "Saxe-Teschen" album in the Metropolitan Museum of Art shows a pot-pourri project featuring such a knop, probably serving as a model for decorative art dealers to propose their new models to their clients, unless it was a draft of catalogue of works housed in the Royal Castle of Laeken.