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Description :
An elegant and highly decorative pair of 19th-century French porcelain vases dating from the Napoleon III period, displaying the rich and eclectic ornamentation so characteristic of French decorative arts during this era.
Each vase has an elaborate sculptural form with boldly modelled scrolling foliage, a flared and shaped upper section and a moulded base. The cream-white porcelain ground is richly enhanced with gilding, emphasizing the contours and raised decoration. The fronts are beautifully decorated in a striking palette of cobalt blue, pink, green and gold, with delicate hand-painted floral bouquets and garlands adding further refinement to the composition.
The combination of geometric motifs, floral decoration and abundant gilding is particularly evocative of the Napoleon III aesthetic, a period when French decorative arts frequently revisited and reinterpreted earlier 18th-century styles while introducing a more exuberant and theatrical character.
With their generous proportions and wonderfully ornate silhouettes, these vases have considerable decorative presence. They would look particularly attractive displayed as a pair on a mantelpiece, console table or commode and would complement both traditional and more contemporary interiors.
As is often encountered with genuine antique pairs, there are subtle differences between the two pieces. One vase retains particularly strong and well-preserved gilding and features two small openings within the upper moulded decoration. These openings are not present on its companion, whose polychrome decoration has also softened slightly with age. These discreet variations are consistent with the individual character and history of antique pieces and do not detract from the overall harmony of the pair.
A beautiful and characterful pair of French Napoleon III porcelain vases, combining sculptural form, vibrant colour and richly applied gilt decoration.
Period: 19th century – Napoleon III
Dimensions of each vase:
Height: 28 cm / 11 in
Width: 22 cm / 8.7 in
Depth: 14.5 cm / 5.7 in