A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED AGATE POT-POURRI VASES |

the body flanked with folliated handles, the cover resting on a pierced frieze and the base with folliated motifs

Former collection of Baron Henri de Rothschild, sold Paris, étude Ader Picard Tajan, Paris, 22 March 1977, lot 38

Comparative literature :
- D. Alcouffe, « Les vases en pierres dures », in Versalia, n°2, 1999, pp. 6-15
- M . Bimbenet-Privat, « Cassolette d'agate et d'or de la reine Marie-Antoinette », in Décors, mobilier et objets d'art du musée du Louvre de Louis XIV à Marie-Antoinette, Paris, 2014, p. 474-475, n°205

The photograph is quite accurate. Very good overall condition. To recommend.
"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."

Marie-Antoinette's penchant for mounted stones Our pair of potpourris, also known as cassolettes, made it possible to "[burn] odors” and became very popular with interiors as early as the 17th century. During the 18th century, several decorative art dealers like Mazare Duvaux made it their specialty. Queen Marie-Antoinette appreciated these artifacts and bought from the Duke of Aumont auction in 1782 a large jasper and gilt bronze cassolette by Pierre Gouthière (Wallace Collection, inv. F292). As indicated by the inventories made in 1789 and 1792 by Dominique Daguerre, Martin-Eloy Lignereux and Marie-Etienne Nitot, the Queen was particularly fond of objects of « oriental agate (...), carnelian, beautiful petrified woods of various colors, jasper, porphyry, alabaster, fluorspar and other precious or curious matters ». Some semi-precious stones assembled in the Royal collections were reused for their apartments, sometimes with some contemporary modifications such as lapis lazuli nef (Louvre, MR262), several agate coupes, sardoine-onyx, jade, etc. She made several acquisitions including a small gold and moss agate cassolette in 1784, produced by the goldsmith Charles Ouizille (fig. 1). More decorative than usual, it was placed in her interior cabinet at Versailles among the many objects in mounted stones and lacquers. Some of the Queen’s objects disappeared from the collections and reappeared on the art market like the previous cassolette by Ouizille or the item from the Duke of Aumont collections. Our pair of vases of great chiseling quality on the bronzes and extreme finesse on the cut agate size could have been part of this ensemble.

Agate came mainly from the Idar-Oberstein mines in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The Henri de Rothschild Collection

This pair of pots-pourris was part of the collections belonging to Baron Henri de Rothschild (1872-1946). Philanthropist, playwright under various pseudonyms, he resided in France despite his English Rothschild ancestry. Living at 1903 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in a townhouse built during the early 18th century and bought by his grandfather Nathaniel in 1856, he was keen to amass various works following the example of his grandparents more so his grandmother, who was particularly fond of Early Masters and 18th century French paintings, some of which are now part of the collections of the Cluny Museum, Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Louvre. He donated and bequeathed to the BNF part of his collection of books, manuscripts and drawings. He later built the château of Muette after 1912, current headquarters of the OECD.