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Lot Essay
This richly mounted vase was designed by Matthew Boulton (d.1810), Georgian England's premier designer and supplier of ormolu objects de luxe. A genius of self promotion, Boulton had a Soho showroom, agents who plied his wares in the Russian and French Courts, and even enlisted the auctioneer James Christie to hold selling exhibitions of his works; the 1771 sale alone had 265 lots.
A similar pattern to this lot is featured in Boulton's 1782 stock list as 'Lyre essence vase, white marble'. Although a specific design has not been located, a much less elaborate version is illustrated in the pattern books from around 1770 (N. Goodison, Ormolu: The Work of Matthew Boulton, London, 1974, fig. 161f).
A rare pair with Blue John bodies in a private collection are illustrated in N. Goodison, Matthew Boulton: Ormolu, London, 2002, pp. 342-343, fig. 346. A single example, closely relating to the present lot was offered, Sotheby's London, 30 June 2004, lot 18.
A few very similar examples of this lyre vase in white marble include: a pair sold anonymously at Christie's, New York, 17 October 1992, lot 160; another pair sold anonymously at Christie's, New York, 17 October 1997, lot 218; and a third pair sold anonymously at Sotheby's, London, 18 November 2008, lot 77.
A similar pattern to this lot is featured in Boulton's 1782 stock list as 'Lyre essence vase, white marble'. Although a specific design has not been located, a much less elaborate version is illustrated in the pattern books from around 1770 (N. Goodison, Ormolu: The Work of Matthew Boulton, London, 1974, fig. 161f).
A rare pair with Blue John bodies in a private collection are illustrated in N. Goodison, Matthew Boulton: Ormolu, London, 2002, pp. 342-343, fig. 346. A single example, closely relating to the present lot was offered, Sotheby's London, 30 June 2004, lot 18.
A few very similar examples of this lyre vase in white marble include: a pair sold anonymously at Christie's, New York, 17 October 1992, lot 160; another pair sold anonymously at Christie's, New York, 17 October 1997, lot 218; and a third pair sold anonymously at Sotheby's, London, 18 November 2008, lot 77.