A pair of gilt-bronze mounted Cong celadon vases, the Chinese porcelain, Qianlong (1736-1795), the mounts Louis XVI, circa 1780

the square shaped vases with two foliate scrolled handles ending in ram's masks, on a stepped circular base with Greek key, on lion paw and scrolled feet

- The Collection of René Fribourg, New York
- His sale, Sotheby's London, The René Fribourg Collection: III, 28 June 1963, lot 148;
- Sale Christie's London, Michael Inchbald: a legacy of Design, 2 January 2014, lot 129

Related literature:
- Exh. cat. El gusto "a la Griega", nacimiento del Neoclasicismo francés, Madrid, 2007, p. 89, fig. 63.
- G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild collection at Waddesdon Manor, Furniture, Clocks and gilt bronze, vol. II, London/Fribourg, 1974, pp. 757-759.
- L. Scheurleer, Chinesisches und japanisches Porzellan in europäischen Fassungen, Brunswick, 1980, pp. 339-341, figs. 335-337, p. 455, fig. 538.
- P. Verlet, Les bronzes dorés français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 1987, p. 123, fig. 159.
- F. J. B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection, New York, 1966, vol. II, pp. 450-451.

The illustration of the catalogue is accurate. The celadon porcelain is in good overall condition. The ormolu mounts are in good overall condition with minute stains. Beautiful design and refined chasing.
"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 Cong-form vase shape, which would originally have been made in bronze and jade with a square section rising from a short, circular foot and surmounted by a similarly short, circular neck has been preserved by China and her people since the Neolithic period. Placed in the tombs of great dignitaries, these vessels did not only reinforce the precious quality of the material used, but the shape would have symbolized the earth, eternity and preservation. Over the centuries, this shape also named ts'ung was employed in celadon porcelain which is applicable to the mid-eighteenth century pair here offered.

Known ts'ung vases with Louis XV mounts are similar to a drawing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (inv. 61.680.1.8, fig. 2): a pair in the catalogue of the Wrightsman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a vase in the Gascoyne Collection which was incorporated into the Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor in 1884, and which furthermore is identical to a vase formerly in the Lord Fairhaven Collection at Anglesey Abbey. Others have come on to the art market, such as the pair sold by Pierre Bergé and Associates, Paris, on June 10, 2009, lot 219, another sold Christie's, London, The Lamon Collection, the 29th November 1973, lot 52, and another sold Christie's, London, April 12, 1984, lot 31.

The rare neoclassical mounts on the present pair correspond with the pair from the Grog-Carven Collection and which were bequeathed to the Louvre Museum in 1973 (Inv. OA 10556, fig. 3).