A REGENCY ORMOLU-MOUNTED GREEN-GLAZED CHINESE CELADON PORCELAIN TRIPLE GOURD-SHAPED VASE

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LONGLEAT AND NORTON HALL INVENTORIES The following inventories are referred to in the catalogue: LONGLEAT 1740 This inventory is taken from an Indenture between Lord Weymouth [Thomas, 2nd Viscount Weymouth], Richard Hoare & Christopher Arnold of 15 September 1740, pledging the entire contents of both Longleat and his Horningsham home as security for an £8000 loan. (Longleat archives, 2nd Viscount Weymouth 205 15/09/1740). 1837 An Inventory of Household Furniture and other Effects in and about the Mansion at Longleat belonging to the Estate of the late Most Noble Thomas Second Marquess of Bath 1837. This inventory records the house as furnished and arranged by the 2nd Marquess of Bath who died in 1837. (Longleat archives, 2nd Marquess of Bath 195 02/05/1837). 1852 An Inventory of the Household Furniture, Plate, Pictures, Linen, China & c. at Longleat House As taken account of and inspected by me August 1852, Thomas Harris Warminster August 31st 1852. This inventory, almost exactly the same as that of 1837, records the arrangement of the rooms as organised by the 2nd Marquess of Bath, before the 4th Marquess began buying seriously and before his rearrangement. (Longleat archives, 4th Marquess of Bath 205 31/08/1952). 1869 Christie, Manson and Woods, Inventory of the Furniture Plate, China & Glass. Longleat November 1869. This records the same room arrangement as 1852 (ie before the 4th Marquess' alterations to Longleat) but with many of his purchases. (Longleat archives, 4th Marquess of Bath 205 01/11/1869). 1896 Inventory and Valuation of the Furniture, Plate, Jewels, Pictures, China, Glass, Books and Effects at Longleat Wilts bequeathed as Heirlooms under the Will of The Most Hon.ble Thomas second Marquess of Bath Lofts & Warner 130 Mount Street Berkeley Square W' 1896 Inventory and Valuation of Plate, Linen, China, Glass, Books, Pictures Prints, Furniture, Musical Instruments, Articles of Vertu & c. settled as Heirlooms at Longleat Wilts under the Will of the late Most Noble John Alexander forth Marquess of Bath deceased Lofts & Warner 130 Mount Street Berkeley Square W 1896 Inventory and Valuation of the Furniture, Pictures, Household Effects, Jewels, Trinkets, Snuff Boxes, Wearing Apparel & c. at No. 48 Berkeley Square London W. and the Furniture, China, Pictures, Prints, Articles of Vertu and the contents (Heirlooms excepted) of the Marchioness of Bath's Rooms at Longleat Wilts. late the Property of the Most Noble John Alexander 4th Marquess of Bath deceased Lofts and Warner 130 Mount Street Berkeley Square W. These inventories, taken after the death of the 4th Marquess of Bath in 1896 help establish which items were purchased by him, and which were purchased by his grandfather, the 2nd Marquess. (Longleat archives, 4th Marquess of Bath 195 01/08/1896). NORTON HALL 1863 An Inventory of the Fixtures Furniture Ornaments China & Glass at Norton Hall, near Daventry, Northamptonshire, the property of Beriah Botfield Esq're MP, & c & c Taken July 1863 Gillow & Co. Estate Agents & c London. This inventory records the arrangement of the rooms as organised by Beriah Botfield Junior, shortly before his death later that year. (Longleat archives, Norton Box III 16). 1919 Inventory of Furniture, Plate, China, Books, Pictures, Armour, Arms, Ornaments, and Effects at Norton Hall, Daventry, Northamptonshire and at Messrs Drummonds Bank, Charing Cross. S.W. Settled as Heirlooms under the terms of the Will of Lieut. Colonel Lord Alexander George Thynne. This inventory by Lots & Warner records the house as arranged in 1919, following the death of Lord Alexander Thynne in the First World War. (Longleat archives, Lord Alexander Thynne 195, 08/02/1919). 1942 In the Estate of the late Lady Beatrice Thynne Norton Hall, Rugby Schedule C Copy of Valuation of Heirlooms under the Will of Lieut. Colonel Lord Alexander George Thynne Dec'd excluding those already exempted from Duty as articles of National, Scientific Historic or Artistic Importance and (b) Those Which we now recommend for exemption on those Grounds Sotheby & Co. February 1942 This is the last inventory of Norton Hall before some of the furniture was moved to Longleat. (Longleat archives, Lady Beatrice Thynne 195 01/02/1942). FURNITURE, WORKS OF ART, SILVER AND PORCELAIN EVENING SESSION AT 7 P.M.

A REGENCY ORMOLU-MOUNTED GREEN-GLAZED CHINESE CELADON PORCELAIN TRIPLE GOURD-SHAPED VASE

POSSIBLY BY VULLIAMY & SON, THE PORCELAIN KANGXI

Details

A REGENCY ORMOLU-MOUNTED GREEN-GLAZED CHINESE CELADON PORCELAIN TRIPLE GOURD-SHAPED VASE
Possibly by Vulliamy & Son, the porcelain Kangxi
The gadrooned neck above a foliate band flanked by twin chimerical lion -mask handles isuing S-scrolled stems joined by a pearled band, the porcelain body decorated overall with scrolling peonies, above a further pearled band, lacking base mount
10¼ in. (26 cm.) high

Provenance

Possibly bought by Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837) for Longleat, Wiltshire and by descent to
John Alexander, 4th Marquess of Bath (1831-1896) Longleat, Wiltshire and by descent at Longleat.

Literature

1896 Inventory (4th Marquess' Heirlooms), f 50 r Ante Dining Room, 'An old Celadon ware gourd shaped bottle mounted gilt ormolu Empire period - height 11 inches'.

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.

Lot Essay

The triple-gourd Chinese celadon vase with bacchic lion-mask handles was possibly acquired by Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath from the celebrated Golden Square porcelain and furniture dealer, Robert Fogg, 'Chinaman' to the Prince of Wales. We know that the Marquess was a client of Fogg's as a bill for a 'Library Table' and 'Japan Chest and Stand' exists in the Longleat archives (NMR E 6 A/7). The vase may have been mounted by the Vulliamy firm of Pall Mall, the family firm that was started in the 1730s by François Justin Vulliamy (1712-1797). François was succeeded by his son Benjamin (1747-1811), the father and latterly partner of Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780-1854) with whom he worked. The Vulliamys boasted among their clients not only the leading families in the land, but also members of the Royal family, including George, Prince of Wales, later George IV.
The fluid treatment and simple chasing of the arms, foliage and masks are typical of the Vulliamy style, while the chimerical masks appear on a pair of bronze winged lion candlesticks, made and signed by Benjamin Vulliamy in 1811 and inspired by the marble bas-relief fragment of a torch-bearing 'chimière' engraved by Charles Heathcote Tatham in his celebrated Etchings Representing the Best Examples of Ancient Ornamental Architecture, 1799. The candlesticks were sold by Mr. Edward Sarofim, in these Rooms, 16 November 1995, lot 109.

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