Lot Essay
Edouard Honoré (d. 1855) followed his father into the porcelain business, heading one of the major porcelain manufactories in Paris in the 19th century. In 1816 he formed a partnership with Pierre-Louis Dagoty and after this came to an end in 1820, he continued independently with a saleroom at Boulevard Poissonnière and a factory at Champroux, Allier. Honoré was known for his high quality and innovative work, and he took out several patents for the application of high-temperature coloured grounds and for the development of lithographic techniques. By 1846, Honoré was among the leading producers of French tableware and much of his factory's production was specifically designed for the American market. The design for the form of the present pair of vases dates from the period of collaboration between Dagoty and Honoré and illustrates the early 19th century rediscovery of Greek culture and the fascination with shapes and decoration inspired by antiquity. A pair of vases of the same form are illustrated by Régine de Plinval de Guillebon, Dagoty à Paris, Paris, 2006, p. 77, cat no. 57. A further identical pair was with Steinitz, Paris (exhibition catalogue, Paris, 2006, p. 436).