THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1753-60, THE ORMOLU PREDOMINANTELY CIRCA 1760-70, INCISED BP (?) TO UNDERSIDE OF ONE BIRD, ASSEMBLED BY A MARCHAND-MERCIER

Vincennes models of birds were inspired by the Meissen examples modelled by J.J. Kändler who in turn was copying earlier Chinese and Japanese models. The first recorded sale of individual Vincennes birds ‘2 petites perrches’ was noted on 23 October 1749; these were acquired by the marchand-mercier Lazare Duvaux for 30 livres and sold to monsieur de Villaumont. Marchand-merciers such as Duvaux incorporated Vincennes birds into decorative or functional objects such as girandoles, pot-pourri vases and inkstands. Several are recorded in his Livre-Journal, including : ‘Mme la Marq. De Pompadour: Une paire de girandoles à deux branches à feuillages et terraces dorés d’or moulu sur des oiseaux de Vincennes bleu et or, les fleurs même porcelaine assorties, 360 livres.’ See the pair of Vincennes bleu lapis-ground ormolu-mounted pot-pourri vases mounted on lacquered stands with Vincennes birds, sold from the collection of Léon Levy, Sotheby’s Paris, 2 October 2008, lot 28 (78,750 euros), which are now in the Belvedere Collection, illustrated by Joanna Gwilt, Vincennes and Early Sèvres Porcelain from the Belvedere Collection, London, 2014, p. 239, nos. 174 and 175.