.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The extremely unusual feature of domed gilt-bronze covers, as opposed to porcelain, is also seen on a pair of goût grec ormolu-mounted Chinese powder blue porcelain vases in the musée du Louvre, Paris. Clearly reflecting the influence of Jean-Charles Delafosse, they are illustrated and discussed in D. Alcouffe et al., Gilt Bronzes in the Louvre, Paris, 2004, no.74, p.151. A further related powder-blue porcelain garniture with ram's-mask and laurel-swagged mounts, the flanking vases with porcelain lids, was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 27 June 1974, lots 13-14 (illustrated in S. Eriksen, Early Neoclassicism in France, Geneva, 1974, pl.238 and p.362).
Closely related mounts, undoubtedly by the same bronzier, feature on a pair of vases from the collection of the Earl of Powis for Powis Castle, Wales (sold Sotheby's London, 11 May 1962, lot 159), a pair of celadon vases illustrated in Jean-Marie Rossi, 45 Ans de Passion, Paris, n.d., p.121 and a garniture of three deep blue porcelain vases sold in Paris, Galerie Jean Carpentier, 27-28 November 1934, lots 12-13. A further related pair, but with puttti mounts, is discussed by T. Dell, The Frick Collection French Furniture & Gilt Bronzes, II, Vermont, 1992, pp.315-20. Dell associates the Frick vases stylistically with the bronzier Jean Godille, who are recorded in the Almanach Dauphin of 1773: Godille, rue Guénégaud, renommé pour les garnitures de porcelain et autres vases précieux.
Closely related mounts, undoubtedly by the same bronzier, feature on a pair of vases from the collection of the Earl of Powis for Powis Castle, Wales (sold Sotheby's London, 11 May 1962, lot 159), a pair of celadon vases illustrated in Jean-Marie Rossi, 45 Ans de Passion, Paris, n.d., p.121 and a garniture of three deep blue porcelain vases sold in Paris, Galerie Jean Carpentier, 27-28 November 1934, lots 12-13. A further related pair, but with puttti mounts, is discussed by T. Dell, The Frick Collection French Furniture & Gilt Bronzes, II, Vermont, 1992, pp.315-20. Dell associates the Frick vases stylistically with the bronzier Jean Godille, who are recorded in the Almanach Dauphin of 1773: Godille, rue Guénégaud, renommé pour les garnitures de porcelain et autres vases précieux.