A BERLIN TOPOGRAPHICAL LAPIS-GROUND TWO-HANDLED VASE OF FRANZÖSISCHE FORM painted with a named view of the Capitol zu Washington., with figures before the impressive classical style building within a rectangular panel edged with a broad gilt band, the reverse with Mercury seated among inscribed packages, barrels, sacks and an anchor under palm trees on a quay before a classical building and sailing ships within an oval panel edged with a broad gilt band, on a bright-blue ground streaked with gilding simulating lapis, the scroll, palmette and foliage-moulded handles with burnished and matt gilding and the cylindrical neck and flared foot richly gilt and reserved with white bands, the upper rim with a broad matt-gilt band chased with caillouté decoration, on a white square base (very slight rubbing to flared foot and stem), blue sceptre and iron-red orb marks, blue painter's square and line mark, circa 1840

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY

Details

A BERLIN TOPOGRAPHICAL LAPIS-GROUND TWO-HANDLED VASE OF FRANZÖSISCHE FORM painted with a named view of the Capitol zu Washington., with figures before the impressive classical style building within a rectangular panel edged with a broad gilt band, the reverse with Mercury seated among inscribed packages, barrels, sacks and an anchor under palm trees on a quay before a classical building and sailing ships within an oval panel edged with a broad gilt band, on a bright-blue ground streaked with gilding simulating lapis, the scroll, palmette and foliage-moulded handles with burnished and matt gilding and the cylindrical neck and flared foot richly gilt and reserved with white bands, the upper rim with a broad matt-gilt band chased with caillouté decoration, on a white square base (very slight rubbing to flared foot and stem), blue sceptre and iron-red orb marks, blue painter's square and line mark, circa 1840
41cm. high

Lot Essay

According to the 'Account Book' of King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia the form for this vase was not developed from an ancient original, but rather from a model created by a French Porcelain factory, most likely Sèvres. The vase was produced in nine different sizes, first in 1832 as Vase mit verzierten henkeln and in 1833 as Französische Vase mit verzierten Henkeln; they were either made as pairs or single examples. For a similar example with views of Berlin, the inner and outer Palace Courtyard, see Ilse Baer et al., Along the Royal Road, p. 118, no. 12

The Capitol in Washington was designed by William Thornton who won a competition in 1792 for the best design and the cornerstone was laid by George Washington on 18th September 1793. Thornton had no knowledge of building technology and therefore the construction was initially supervised by Stephen Halle who made too many attempts to change Thornton's plan and was replaced by James Hoban. In 1814 the British set fire to the Capitol and after the war Latrobe began reconstruction resigning in 1817; his successor was Charles Bulfinch, a distinguished Boston architect, who adhered to Thornton's original design and by 1827 had joined the two wings and built the first dome completing the design in 1830. From 1851-65 the building was enlarged

More from British and Continental Ceramics

View All