BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF NICOLAS I (1825-1855), ONE SIGNED BY STOLETOV AND DATED 1842

Details

A pair of Russian ormolu-mounted parcel-gilt green ground porcelain campana urns
By the Imperial Porcelain Factory, St Petersburg, Period of Nicolas I (1825-1855), One signed by Stoletov and dated 1842
Each with an overhanging rim, the body centred to the front by a landscape in the manner of Meindert Hobbema, one scene signed to the lower left side Hobbema and Stoletov 1842, the other for 'after Ruisdael', the back with a harp surmounted by a star and flanked to each side by an eagle, with ribbon-tied floral swags and scrolls, above a scrolling leaf frieze, flanked to each side by a fluted handle, on a fluted spreading socle, on a square bronze base; the white inside of the body with a blue overglazed mark N 1 surmounted by a crown
27½ in. (68.5 cm.) high (2)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Sale room notice

Please note that the vase signed HOBBEMA is also signed and dated Stoletov 1842.
The other vase is signed for 'after Ruisdael'.

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. It was during his reign that the technique of gilding reached its zenith, as may be seen on the reverse of the present vases.

It was a custom to depict on Imperial gifts paintings or palaces belonging to the Imperial collections. In the present case, the models for the scenes are probably paintings executed by Hobbema and part of the Hermitage collections at the time.

A similar pair of Russian vases was sold in these rooms, 01 November 2001, lot 263 (GBP80,750).

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