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Lot Essay
Although the bronzier responsible for these mounts is unknown, the unusual animal-form feet (pieds de bîche) are of the same character as the lion-paw monopodiae executed by Pierre Gouthière for the 'aiguière d'ancienne porcelaine du Japon couleur violette' supplied to Marie-Antoinette for her Cabinet Intérieur at Versailles (sold by the Luton Hoo Foundation, Christie's London, 9 June 1994, lot 35). It is interesting to note, therefore, that the mounts for these latter ewers may well have been designed by the duc d'Aumont's architect and designer François-Joseph Bélanger. Further parallels can also be drawn with the mounts on the Japanese Kakiemon porcelain 'Hampton court' vases in the Arts of France sale, 26 October 2001, lot 223.
The pierced scrolling arabesque rinceaux frieze is also of similar character to that on the candelabra acquired by Maria Feodorovna, Empress of Russia for Gatchina Palace and now in the Dodge Collection (T.Dell, The Dodge Collection of Eighteenth Century French and English Art in the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, 1996, pp.134-138). These are thought to have been the work of the fondeur-ciseleur Jean-Claude-Thomas Chambellan Duplessis (c.1730-1783). The son of a famous designer of both metalwork and ceramics, who was artistic director for models at both Vincennes and Sèvres, Duplessis fils assisted his father from as early as 1752. In 1765 he was registered maître-fondeur en terre et sable and in 1775-80 he published several engraved designs for vases.
The pierced scrolling arabesque rinceaux frieze is also of similar character to that on the candelabra acquired by Maria Feodorovna, Empress of Russia for Gatchina Palace and now in the Dodge Collection (T.Dell, The Dodge Collection of Eighteenth Century French and English Art in the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, 1996, pp.134-138). These are thought to have been the work of the fondeur-ciseleur Jean-Claude-Thomas Chambellan Duplessis (c.1730-1783). The son of a famous designer of both metalwork and ceramics, who was artistic director for models at both Vincennes and Sèvres, Duplessis fils assisted his father from as early as 1752. In 1765 he was registered maître-fondeur en terre et sable and in 1775-80 he published several engraved designs for vases.