FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY

With its finely chased bronze mounts and rich stone specimens, this impressive vase is emblematic of the luxurious works of art produced at the Imperial lapidary workshops in Russia in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Its refined neoclassical form and snake-form supports – inspired by Ancient Roman vessels – link the present lot to a pair of Russian vases with identical handles formerly in the collection of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman offered Christie’s, Paris, 8 November 2013, lot 189. Related serpent handles can also be found on a pair of porphyry vases of neo-classical design sold Christie’s, Paris, 6 November 2014, lot 423 (€59,100).

Many of the creations of the Russian Imperial lapidary workshops at Peterhof and Ekaterinburg – founded in 1721 and 1751, respectively – and enriched with bronze mounts from the Imperial manufactory, were inspired by French objects produced in late 18th century. As such, it is interesting to note the mounts on this lot – particularly the serpent handles and foliate garlands – relate it to a pair of vases formerly in the collection of Richard Mique (1728-1794), architect to Marie-Antoinette, and today in the collections of the Louvre (M. Müntz de Raïssac, “Quatre vases en porphyrye de la collection Richard Mique,” La Revue du Louvre et des Musées de France, 1900-5, pp. 386-390). These impressive vases no doubt inspired artisans in Russia, who continued to create luxurious objects in the same refined neoclassical taste over the subsequent decades.