Lot Essay
Charles-Louis Méreau working period 1756-79 known as Méreau jeure
These pots-à-oille du roi were almost certainly supplied and mounted for Walter Francis Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch circa 1830 by Edward Holmes Baldoch (d.1845), the celebrated Marchant-Mercier who was instrumental in promoting the fashion for French ormolu-mounted objects popularised by George IV.
Between April 1830 and May 1831, Baldoch supplied 209 pieces of Sèrres porcelain to the newly-married 5th Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, most notable amongst these being the one hundred and three pieces from Louis XV's Vincennes dinner service and the pair of ort-pourri vases originally from the collection of Madame de Pompadour. It is, therfore, most interesting to note that both the Vincennes service and the pompadour pot-pourri vases, probably purchased through Baldroch's agent Mr. Crockford Junior, are similarly mounted with dolphin-supports (see R.Savill, the Sèvres Porcelain Collection of the 5th Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Boughton House, The English Versaille, ed. Tessa Murdoch, London 1992, pp.142-51, plates 82 and 85)
A pair of Sèvres tureens with similar dragon and dolphin ormolu mounts is in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth
These pots-à-oille du roi were almost certainly supplied and mounted for Walter Francis Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch circa 1830 by Edward Holmes Baldoch (d.1845), the celebrated Marchant-Mercier who was instrumental in promoting the fashion for French ormolu-mounted objects popularised by George IV.
Between April 1830 and May 1831, Baldoch supplied 209 pieces of Sèrres porcelain to the newly-married 5th Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, most notable amongst these being the one hundred and three pieces from Louis XV's Vincennes dinner service and the pair of ort-pourri vases originally from the collection of Madame de Pompadour. It is, therfore, most interesting to note that both the Vincennes service and the pompadour pot-pourri vases, probably purchased through Baldroch's agent Mr. Crockford Junior, are similarly mounted with dolphin-supports (see R.Savill, the Sèvres Porcelain Collection of the 5th Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Boughton House, The English Versaille, ed. Tessa Murdoch, London 1992, pp.142-51, plates 82 and 85)
A pair of Sèvres tureens with similar dragon and dolphin ormolu mounts is in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth