Chinese set mounted in bronze

Period : Louis XVI, circa 1770

Bronzesmith : attributed to Jean Charles Delafosse (1734-1789)

Provenance : Etienne Levy Collection

Bibliography : F.J.B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection, Vol. II, published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a similar vase is reproduced on page 483, n° 272, A and B.

Size :

Middle vase: Height: 27 cm

Width: 18 cm

Side vases Height: 25 cm

Width: 9.5 cm

Chinise set mounted in Bronze (suite)

A set consisting of three oviform vases in Chinese porcelain, with a red ground and gold highlights, and gilded and chiselled bronze.

The middle vase is decorated with houses arranged in a landscape.  The neck is highlighted with aquatic leaves topped by a striated band.  The handles are formed of Greek friezes linked together by a big garland of entwined laurels, and joined to the bottom part to form the feet, which are also embellished with palmettes.

The two smaller vases are accentuated by a decoration of peonies surrounded by foliage. The neck, in gilded bronze, is adorned with gadroons and has rings holding a chain. The handles represent masks of old men.  The circular piedouche is finely fluted and bordered by rinceaux.  The base has hollowed-out sides and is embellihed with striated plaques.

A pair of vases similar to the middle one belongs to the Wrightsman Collection.