A pair of Sèvres gilt-bronze-mounted biscuit vases (Vases Cordelier à ornaments)decorated by Pierre-Louis-Philippe Armand circa 1788

the underside with a crowned interlaced LL monogram enclosing date code LL in blue  for 1788

Château de Rotalier, Beaufort, where these vases were already recorded in 1886 as part of a family donation and were present till 1995.
Sold in these rooms on 8th  June 2005, lot 54 for £130,000.

Gilding of mounts more golden and attractive than in photograph. Attractive detail to casting. The painted decoration on the vases is very beautiful. Right hand vase: There is a small black firing fault to the tip of one petal on the flower frieze to the shoulder. There is an approx 7cm area with some overpainting to the rim extending downwards approx 2.5cm. There are two fine haircracks to the sides of the vase, each starting to one side of the handle and extending upwards, each for approx. 8in. Only one crack is visible on the exterior. There are areas of overpainting to the white gadrooned lower section of the vase from below the beaded border down to the top of the foot. One area of restoration extending through beaded border down to the top of the foot. One area of restoration extending through beaded border to include three of the moulded palmettes. 97% of the vase is in very good condition and the 3% has been restored impeccably. Left hand vase: One burnt firing fault to trellis and floral border. Approx 10cm area of overpainting to edge of footrim (probably an overrestored chip). Overall some very minor scattered surface wear and abrasions. In otherwise excellent condition with 99% of the vase being in original condition. Very rare and in immaculate condition. Measurements 46cm. high, 38.5cm. wide (including handles), 27cm. deep; 18¼in., 15¼in., 10½in.
"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."

The rarity of these magnificent vases is confirmed by the fact that no other similar type of decoration is recorded in the literature.

The plaster model of the Vase Cordelier à ornaments is preserved in the Sèvres museum, and the model is thus listed in the oldest surviving inventory, begun in 1817-see fig. 1, which has exactly the same reliefs as those on the offered vases. This form of vase first appears under the name Vase Cordelier in 1804, though its earlier appellation is not known.

The archives of the Manufacture de Sèvres reveal that only one pair of vases of this model was executed in 1788. However, a pair of lilac-ground Vases Cordelier of the same form dated to 1790, decorated with grisaille landscapes but without the moulded foliate and gadrooned borders, and with similar gilt-metal mounts, is in the Sèvres museum (MNC 26,406 1-2), and published by Marie-Noël Pinot de Villechenon, Sèvres Porcelain from the Sèvres Museum 1740 to the Present Day, London 1997, p.47, no.46 (illustrated)-see fig. 2.

The painters that were active at the Manufacture de Sèvres are known to have a particular way of signing their pieces, ranging from clearly marking their initials, to applying in the subtlest of ways their mark. So did the decorator, Pierre-Louis-Philippe Armand, interlace the two LL Sèvres marks with dots at the intersections in such a way that we can establish these marks with his craftsmanship and execution. The interlaced LL mark on the present pair of vases corresponds with his hand. Upon consulting the "Régistre de Paiements des Peintres" , Armand Jeune has been paid a sum on 26 November 1788 for the execution of  "deux vases biscuit bas relief et dorure (see fig.3 ). This more than likely corresponds with the present pair of vases. Furthermore, the "Régistre d'Enfournement pour l'Année 1788" reveals that "Deux Vases en Bas Relief et Or, Armand"  went through the kiln process. Armand was one of the most highly paid painters at Sèvres, hence reflecting his highest standard of craftsmanship.

We are indebted to Cyrille Froissart for his archival research and to Tamara Préaud, Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, for providing the illustration of the model of the Vase Cordelier.