A Louis XV silver-gilt mounted Imari porcelain ewer, Paris, 1717-1722

Among the decorative objects from the Far East collected by Europeans from the end of the 16th century, porcelain was the most prized. This translucent, transparent material was unprecedented in Europe and therefore extremely sought-after by collectors. Sometimes, these pieces were embellished with silver mounts, either to mask accidents that had occurred during transport, notably lids, handles, spouts and bases; or simply to enhance the porcelain, adding even more prestige with precious mounts, mainly in silver but sometimes also in gold. This collection includes twelve silver-mounted porcelain pieces, most of them from the former collection of Jean Pétin, one of the greatest 18th-century connoisseurs, but also one of the most discreet; a collection that can be admired in photographs of his private mansion on rue de Varenne in Paris. In one color photograph, a Boulle cabinet is mixed with the Imari collection, topped by patinated bronze sculptures.