A pair of French gilt-bronze mounted Fahua vases, the earthenware Ming dynasty, the mounts late 19th century

The earthenware of these charming vases was adapted from Fahua stools which of this type were made in China for both indoor and outdoor use in gardens and courtyards. Known in a variety of media, they were modeled in the shape of drums, with prominent nail heads originally used to keep the skin of the drum stretched.

Very few Fahua stools were adorned with French gilt-bronze mounts during the 18th century, with few examples recorded: one from the former collection of the Duke d'Aumont bought by King Louis XVI in 1782 (Versailles, inv. T 423 C), one sold in Paris at Sotheby's, 15 December 2010, lot 93 (960,750 EUR) and another Fahua stool was included in the Beurdeley sale, 6 May 1895, lot 6.

A similar Fahua stool with French 19th century mounts was sold at Sotheby's, Paris, 11 April 2018, lot 305 (18,750 EUR).