A Russian Imperial Porcelain Vase, Imperial Porcelain Factory, St. Petersburg, Period of Nicholas I (1825-1855)

the campana shaped vase on a fluted circular foot supported on a square gilt metal base, the body with a finely painted scene of young boy and girl with a jug framed by a window and inscribed in Cyrillic after a Painting by van der Poel, signed in Cyrillic Morozov and dated 1867, the reverse with an image of nereid with coral jewelry and sea fronds in her hair blowing a conch within a circular cartouche framed by gilt bands, the body further decorated with brightly painted ivy and foliage on a pale taupe background, the gilt reed handles rising from acanthus leaves, the bulbous base similarly cast with gilded acanthus foliage, with finely cast and chased gilt bronze fittings

Sotheby's, London, December 1, 2005, lot 231

some wear to gilding around rim
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The inscription at the lower left corner of the image decorating this imposing vase identifies it as a copy after the Dutch painter Egbert Lievensz van der Poel (1621-1664), a painter of nocturnal fires. The device of figures framed by a window was popular with many Dutch painters of the period. Because artists at the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory usually copied works in the Imperial collections, it is possible that the copied work had been misattributed in the mid-19th century.