A pair of Vincennes bleu céleste-ground vases 1755

(vase à orielles, 3^eme grandeur) finely painted by André-Vincent Vieillard, on either side with children in landscapes, the flared foot tooled with a flower wreath, interlaced L's mark, date letter C and painter's mark in blue enamel.

The Earl of Harewood Collection, Harewood House, Yorkshire
Sale: Christie's, London, July 1, 1965, lot 8
Winifred Williams, London, acquired in 1979

Hugh Tait, "Sèvres Porcelain in the Collection of the Earl of Harewood," Apollo, February 1965, p. 476, fig. 6

Both in generally good condition, except: The one on the left in the catalogue illustration: The reverse panel (not showing in the catalogue illustration) has an approximate 1/2-inch long area on the left side of the gilt border with some rubbing to the gilding. The front panel has some very minor and occasional wear to the gilding on the tooled border at the top beneath the gilt bird decoration as well as to its right. There are two small flakes to the gilding on the footrim. The one on the right in the catalogue illustration: the front panel has a tiny flake to the gilding on the top of the border near the the gilt bird's tail. The reverse side has some retouching to the gilding on the lower end of the gilt border to the foliate element. There is a pinhead chip to the inner footrim, which is not visible from the exterior. There is some very minor and occasional wear to the gilding along the footrim.
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.

André-Vincent Vieillard (1717-1790) was the Sèvres manufactory's principal painter of children in landscapes, compositions which were mostly adapted after works by François Boucher. 
A pair of bleu céleste-ground vases of this shape, painted with cherubs representing the elements, is in the Wallace Collection, and is illustrated in Rosalind Savill, The Wallace Collection, Catalogue of Sèvres Porcelain, pp. 139-141, cat. no: C241-2. A pair of blue-de-roi ground vases painted with putti in the clouds, formerly in the Collection of Baron Eugene de Rothschild, was sold at Christie's London, June 3, 1974, lot 28. A pair of bleu lapis-ground vases painted with figures in landscapes was sold at Sotheby's London, June 6, 1989, lot 93 and another pair of bleu céleste-ground vases of this shape, painted with flowers, from the Estate of Mrs. Robert Lehman was sold in these rooms, November 18, 2000, lot 11.