A pair of Sèvres bleu lapis-ground bottle coolers circa 1761

(seaux à bouteille) reserved within elaborate ciselé gilt foliate scrolls against the bleu lapis ground gilt with oeil-de-perdrix, interlaced L's, date letter I, and painter's marks for François -Joseph Aloncle in blue enamel.

Sale: Sotheby's, London, December 8, 1970, lot 12
Sir John H. Plumb Collection, Cambridge

Both coolers with some very minor and occasional rubbing to the gilding along the footrim and on the handles. The one on the left in the catalogue illustration: The front panel (showing in the catalogue illustration) has some occasional fine scratches to the glaze and enamels, including on the bird's outstretched wings and the lower part with the shrubbery. There is a very small flaking to the purple enamel on the bird's back. There is a small circular firing fault on the body, to the upper left side of the central panel near the handle, which is glazed over. The back panel has two short vertical linear scratches to the brown enamel on the tree and some overall minor occasional scratches mostly to the lower part of the central painting. The sides of the cooler have a few small sponge-like areas where the glaze is thinner and lighter in appearance; otherwise the glaze is overall even and the gilding is bright. The cooler on the right in the catalogue illustration: The front and back panels, each has a short linear scratch to the brown enamel on the tree and some minor fine scratches overall, mostly to the shrubbery in the lower parts. There are some minor flakes to the gilding on the lower part of the body and along the footrim. The coolers are in generally good condition otherwise.
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.

François -Joseph Aloncle, active between 1758 and 1791, was one of the principal bird painters in the factory. A bleu lapis-ground vase à compartiments similarly painted with bird subjects by Aloncle, was formerly in the Evill / Frost Collection and sold at Sotheby's London, June 16, 2011, lot 269.