Lot Essay
This celebrated model is one of the earliest types of Sèvres vases à monter and, judging from the number of surviving examples in both the 18th and 19th centuries, the most enduringly successful. A parfumeur by profession, Dulac appears consistently in the sales register at Sèvres from 1758-1776. Dulac acquired the majority of the production of this model, known as vases-cloches, purchasing a total of twenty between 1772 and 1779. Commonly incorporating the amusing device of concealed candle branches to the underside of the lids, Dulac's 18th century originals were popular among the sophisticated collectors of the day, with examples acquired by Madame du Barry, Horace Walpole and Prince Baryatinski for Grand Duke Paul's apartments at Pavlovsk.