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Lot Essay
Chinese porcelain triple-gourd-vases of this shape and size are exceedingly rare. Created during the Kangxi period (1662-1722) in at least three palettes (blue and white, famille verte and mirror black and gilt decoration) the large form would have been very difficult for the potters to execute successfully without flaws or slumping. Slightly smaller examples (19 in.) can be found in the Chinese imari palette.
This extraordinary pair, decorated with a central famille verte band enclosed by gilt designs on a mirror-black ground, are similar to three vases in Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace) in Berlin (see Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst, Berlin, 1929, p. 321, nos. 865 and 866). Charlottenburg was commissioned by Sophie Charlotte, wife of Friedrich 1, in the late 17th century. The palace was inaugurated in 1699, and subsequently named for Sophie Charlotte after her death in 1705. The palace was designed with lavish interiors decorated with contemporary Chinese porcelains, including the magnificent porcelain ‘cabinet’, featuring floor-to-ceiling displays of blue and white wares.
A rare pair of large Kangxi gilt-decorated, mirror-black-ground, triple-gourd-vases, with a central band featuring gilt and copper-red mythical animals on a white ground, from The Eugene O. Perkins Collection and previously in the collections of J.P. Morgan and Archbold van Beuren, was sold at Christie’s New York, 2 June 1989, lot 34. Another pair, decorated only in the famille verte palette, was sold at Christie’s New York, 21 September 2000, lot 318.
The previous owners of the present vases, Roger and Ludmila Piogey, Duc and Duchesse de Caylus formed their collection through a shared spirit of enlightened connoisseurship. The collection was primarily formed to furnish their residence on the Rue Galilee in Paris, where they entertained guests from social and diplomatic circles which included The Rothschilds as well as members of the French aristocracy including the Baron de Redé and the Duc and Duchesse de Noailles. The Duchesse de Caylus was also from a distinguished artistic family and studied at the Louvre. Her uncle was celebrated artist Alexander Iakovlev, while she herself was a personal friend of Modigliani and Bernard Buffet. Much of the collection of furniture was donated to the Louvre following the Duc's death in 1978. The Duchese then moved to New York, bringing her favorite pieces with her, including the present triple gourd vases.
This extraordinary pair, decorated with a central famille verte band enclosed by gilt designs on a mirror-black ground, are similar to three vases in Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace) in Berlin (see Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst, Berlin, 1929, p. 321, nos. 865 and 866). Charlottenburg was commissioned by Sophie Charlotte, wife of Friedrich 1, in the late 17th century. The palace was inaugurated in 1699, and subsequently named for Sophie Charlotte after her death in 1705. The palace was designed with lavish interiors decorated with contemporary Chinese porcelains, including the magnificent porcelain ‘cabinet’, featuring floor-to-ceiling displays of blue and white wares.
A rare pair of large Kangxi gilt-decorated, mirror-black-ground, triple-gourd-vases, with a central band featuring gilt and copper-red mythical animals on a white ground, from The Eugene O. Perkins Collection and previously in the collections of J.P. Morgan and Archbold van Beuren, was sold at Christie’s New York, 2 June 1989, lot 34. Another pair, decorated only in the famille verte palette, was sold at Christie’s New York, 21 September 2000, lot 318.
The previous owners of the present vases, Roger and Ludmila Piogey, Duc and Duchesse de Caylus formed their collection through a shared spirit of enlightened connoisseurship. The collection was primarily formed to furnish their residence on the Rue Galilee in Paris, where they entertained guests from social and diplomatic circles which included The Rothschilds as well as members of the French aristocracy including the Baron de Redé and the Duc and Duchesse de Noailles. The Duchesse de Caylus was also from a distinguished artistic family and studied at the Louvre. Her uncle was celebrated artist Alexander Iakovlev, while she herself was a personal friend of Modigliani and Bernard Buffet. Much of the collection of furniture was donated to the Louvre following the Duc's death in 1978. The Duchese then moved to New York, bringing her favorite pieces with her, including the present triple gourd vases.