A Pair of Sevres (Louis-Philippe) Porcelain Vases  (Vases 'Arabe Feuchere', 2eme grandeur), 1843-1844, blue stenciled LP monogram decorating marks for 1844 and decorator's monogram AEJ for Julienne to both, one incised with the kiln date for february 1843 and 271l. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Each of Alhambra vase form on a vari-knopped socle, the upright handles pierced, decorated in the Islamic taste with a trefoil cartouche enclosing 'damascened' models of confronting giraffes (traditionally described as gazelles on the Moorish prototype) in soft green reserved on a similar ground of gilt-edged Nankin and custard yellow strapwork, the cartouche, in turn, reserved on a ground of strapwork panels, those of a pale and slightly darker cornflower blue alternate with white panels gilt with equally intricate strapwork and arabesques, the vari-knopped neck and socle foot en suite; 19¼ in. (48.8 cm.) high (2). Lot 2566. Estimate $50,000 - $70,000

A Royal gift from Louis-Philippe, King of France

The property of a lady

Literature: T. Préaud, The Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory: Alexandre Brogniart and the Triumph of Art and Industry, 1800-1847, Exhibition Catalogue, The Bard Center for Graduate Studies in the Decorative Arts, London, 1997, cat. no. 99. 

Exhibited: Paris, Palais du Louvre, 3 June 1844 (the annual Sèvres selling exhibition). 

The 'damascened' decoration, the work of Alexis-Etienne Julienne after designs by Lèon Feuchére, is very close to that found on the Alhambra vase, retained in Grenada at the Alhambra Palace. The Sèvres vases cost 812 francs to produce (550 francs for the painting alone) and were listed at 1,000 francs when shown at the Louvre. It is interesting to note the substitution of a chain-pattern band in place of the Arabic inscription found in the watercolor.

For the second and only other pair of this form made, also decorated in the Islamic taste, a quatrefoil strap-work cartouche flanked by similar medallions replacing the confronting giraffes found on the present pair, see B. Ducrot, Second Empire et IIIe Rèpublique - De l'audace á la jubilation, Collection 'Sèvres, une histoire cèramique', Paris, 2008, pp. 8 (color illustration), 137. Dated 1852 and currently housed in the Mobilier national, Paris [Inv. GMI.10124/2], they were exhibited by Sèvres in Dublin at the exhibition of Art and Industry of 1853.

For a detailed history of the present vases and of the use of the innovative demi-grand feuground colors developed at this time, see the above reference Bard exhibition catalogue entry. The catalogue entry makes mention of a 54 inch high amphora version. It is more closely related to the Moorish prototype and is described in the Sèvres records as a vase 'Arabe de L'Alhambra'. Designed to rest in a support formed by bronze models of upturned dolphins, thevase 'Arabe de L'Alhambra' features a bronze pierced gallery encircling the shoulder and separate cloisonné enamel arms pinning into the shoulder and mouth.

Two of this large model were also made, neither of which will likely ever come onto the market. Both feature the confronting animals within an ogival panel seen in the watercolor as the central decoration. The first, the animals against a bleu agate ground, is retained in the Mobilier national. The second, a pink-ground version, has been in the collection of the Musée des arts décoratifs in Rouen since 1850. 

Christie's. 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Oriental Carpets. 7 June 2012 . New York, Rockefeller Plaza