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Lot Essay
The 'vase Etrusque Turpin' is named for Lancelot Théodore Turpin vicomte de Crissé, who advised Brongniart on this particular form. Turpin was an inspecteur in the département des beaux-arts de la Maison du Roi in 1825 and also acted as an intermediary in dealings with the artists working for Brongniart at the Sèvres factory. See Tamara Préaud et. al, The Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory, Alexandre Brongniart and the Triumph of Art and Industry, 1800-1847, New York, 1997, p.78. A pair of vases of the same form were sold by Christie's New York, 15 April 2011, lot 742.
These vases were ordered for delivery to Château de St. Cloud; with their rich ornamentation in gold and platinum on a blue agate-type ground, they complemented King Louis-Philippe's lavish redecoration of the Château. Two references are made to the present vases in the Sèvres archives, the first noting the order on 18 December 1841 (Vv3): 'Pièces entrées au magasin de vente, pièces décorées et sculptures, vitraux - 1836-1843': Fol. No 49, 38:'2 vases Turpin, unis fond bleu, décor étrusque, mosaique en frise de palmette en or et platine/192 (prix unitaire sans décor) - 250 (prix unitaire décoré) 500 (prix paire sortie d'atelier).' The records note the delivery of the vases on 17 April 1843 (Vbb10) 'Présents ventes à crédit 1839-1844' Fol. 62 Vols. 38-94: 'Livrè d'urgence à la conservation du mobilier de la couronne pour l'ameublement du palais de St. Cloud...2 vases Turpin fond bleu decor en or et platine, 250-500.'
Marie Antoinette had originally purchased Château de St. Cloud from Philippe, duc d'Orléans and had subsequently used it as a summer palace. The Château was later occupied by the Prussian army following the Prussian invasion on 19th September 1870, and it was burnt down on 28th January 1871. Many of the items in the Château were stored for safekeeping although the whereabouts of these vases during this time are not known. As the Château was burning during the attack, the Prussians were seen emptying the contents and the remains of the Château were cleared away in 1891.
These vases were ordered for delivery to Château de St. Cloud; with their rich ornamentation in gold and platinum on a blue agate-type ground, they complemented King Louis-Philippe's lavish redecoration of the Château. Two references are made to the present vases in the Sèvres archives, the first noting the order on 18 December 1841 (Vv3): 'Pièces entrées au magasin de vente, pièces décorées et sculptures, vitraux - 1836-1843': Fol. No 49, 38:'2 vases Turpin, unis fond bleu, décor étrusque, mosaique en frise de palmette en or et platine/192 (prix unitaire sans décor) - 250 (prix unitaire décoré) 500 (prix paire sortie d'atelier).' The records note the delivery of the vases on 17 April 1843 (Vbb10) 'Présents ventes à crédit 1839-1844' Fol. 62 Vols. 38-94: 'Livrè d'urgence à la conservation du mobilier de la couronne pour l'ameublement du palais de St. Cloud...2 vases Turpin fond bleu decor en or et platine, 250-500.'
Marie Antoinette had originally purchased Château de St. Cloud from Philippe, duc d'Orléans and had subsequently used it as a summer palace. The Château was later occupied by the Prussian army following the Prussian invasion on 19th September 1870, and it was burnt down on 28th January 1871. Many of the items in the Château were stored for safekeeping although the whereabouts of these vases during this time are not known. As the Château was burning during the attack, the Prussians were seen emptying the contents and the remains of the Château were cleared away in 1891.