CIRCA 1785, POSSIBLY NORTH EUROPEAN

These charming covered vases, with delicate mounts enclosing a body of precious agate, reflect the passion for hardstones in the 1770s and 1780s of connoisseur collectors such as the duc d'Aumont and, subsequently, Queen Marie-Antoinette. The duc d'Aumont was Director of the Menus Plaisirs and himself established a workshop in 1770 specialising in the cutting and polishing of precious hardstones. This celebrated atelier employed the influential architect François-Joseph Bélanger (1744-1818) as designer, Pierre Gouthiére (1732-1813) as ciseleur-doreur, Augustin Bocciardi (active 1760-1790) as sculpteur and Guillemain for giving the hardstones a 'polis ferme et brillant'. Small scale, jewel-like pieces employing hardstones such as agate were a particular speciality of the workshop and much prized by collectors sucas Marie Antoinette. A related bowl with body in agate and mounts attributed to Gouthière was sold from A Trumbauer Estate on the Philadelphia Main Line; Christie's, New York, 15 April 2011, lot 650 ($80,000 exc. premium).