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Lot Essay
As the Russian Imperial Porcelain Factory was in the domain of the Emperor. These vases would have been ordered by the Tsar himself, possibly as a personal or diplomatic gift.
The decoration on the reverse of these vases is reminiscent of the traditional old Russian style, as may be seen on the renowned Kremlin Porcelain Service. It was during the reign of Nicholas I that the technique of gilding reached its zenith.
It was a custom to depict on Imperial gifts palaces or paintings belonging to the Imperial collections. In the present case, one of the scenes is after Gerard Terbosch's 'Country Postman', still in the Hermitage Museum. Painted circa 1655, it was subsequently bought by Catherine The Great in the last quarter of the 18th Century (from the Crozat or the La Vallière collection, Hermitage Catalogue 1958, No. 833). The model for the other scene is probably a painting executed by an artist working in the circle of Nicolaes Maes, possibly Quiringh Gerritsz van Brekelenkam, also part of the Hermitage collections at the time.
The decoration on the reverse of these vases is reminiscent of the traditional old Russian style, as may be seen on the renowned Kremlin Porcelain Service. It was during the reign of Nicholas I that the technique of gilding reached its zenith.
It was a custom to depict on Imperial gifts palaces or paintings belonging to the Imperial collections. In the present case, one of the scenes is after Gerard Terbosch's 'Country Postman', still in the Hermitage Museum. Painted circa 1655, it was subsequently bought by Catherine The Great in the last quarter of the 18th Century (from the Crozat or the La Vallière collection, Hermitage Catalogue 1958, No. 833). The model for the other scene is probably a painting executed by an artist working in the circle of Nicolaes Maes, possibly Quiringh Gerritsz van Brekelenkam, also part of the Hermitage collections at the time.