A George III gilt-bronze and marble perfume burner, circa 1775 and later, attributed to Matthew Boulton

Ronald Phillips, 2017.

Nicholas Goodison, Matthew Boulton: Ormolu, London, 2002, p. 355, illus. 359-61.

(An almost identical version of the same model) Mallett, The Age of Matthew Boulton:Masterpieces of Neo-Classicism, London, 2000, pp.50-51.

This figural group sees Boulton depict a scene from classical mythology, an unusual decision for a designer whose works often rest more on classical forms and motifs or stylised term figures than identifiable ‘characters’ from narratives. Thanks to the careful research of the Boulton expert Nicholas Goodison, we even have a possible source for the composition, a print from Sayer’s Compleat Drawing Book (1755).¹ The female figure is the goddess of romantic love Venus, who mourns her dead lover Adonis alongside her son Cupid. Adonis, a mortal famed for his beauty, dies after being gored by a bull on a hunting trip, as is depicted on the oval-form plaque on the socle – the legend has him returning to die in Venus’ arms, her tears combining with his blood to create the colourful flowers we now call anemones. The doves perching on the steps are an emblem of Venus that date back to her Ancient Greek predecessor Aphrodite, while Cupid has momentarily cast aside his arrows that cause mortals to fall passionately in love. The large urn plays a dual role: it supports the narrative by appearing to hold Adonis’ remains, while serving the real-life function of a perfume burner.

Boulton’s design for this composition is in the first pattern book, and there were several ‘Venus vases’ of this form at Christie’s 1771 sale of Boulton’s stock.² Other versions of this composition are at Syon House and have been seen a few times at auction.³

¹ Nicholas Goodison, Matthew Boulton: Ormolu, London, 2002, p.96.

² Ibid., p.354

³ A couple of examples from the last few years were at Christie’s London, 18^th April 2023, lot 114 and Sotheby’s Paris, 31^st May 2021, lot 4. A variation incorporating clock dials into the urn was at Christie’s London, 6^th July 2023, lot 32, while a different variation substituting the urn for a cercles tournants clock was at Sotheby’s London, Mallett at Bourdon House, 9^th March 2007, lot 1011.